A Birders Field Guide to Gloster Birders

A none-too serious guide to identifying the Gloster birders you may find whilst out birding in Gloucestershire. If you are not in this Birders Guide and would like to be contact me at the usual address. Birders alphabetical by surname, after me.

Field Notes:  Generally found in the Severn Vale, ticked off by most local birders these days. Also highly likely to be found at Kingsholm especially on a Saturday between September and May. Call - "Glawster, Glawster". Plumage - Usually red and white hoops. Sometimes slips into old gold plumage when following the Wolves on their annual trail of underachievement. Responsible for the phenomenon that is The Gloster Birder surprising even himself. Became a member of the Gloster 200 Club in 2005. Has birded in Gloucestershire since 1979, and has several blockers on his County List including Velvet Scoter, Blue-winged Teal, Wilson's Phalarope, Lesser Yellowlegs, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Ross's Gull, Franklin's Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Squacco Heron and Two-barred Crossbill to name a few. Enjoying birding around the world particularly the U.S.A. and nearer to home, Scilly. Married to Bridgette since 1985 (who is a fabulously understanding birder's partner) and has three grown-up children of whom he is immensely proud. Life list BOU 410, UK400 428.

Name: Richard Baatsen    

Field Notes:  I started birding before pagers and internet when Nancy's Café in Cley-next-the -Sea was the centre of the birding community in the UK and when Little Egret where rare. My local patch is Frampton Breakwater Oh sorry Saul Warth. My favourite birding site has to be a late autumn day on St Agnes (Scilly). My biggest want is Collared Flycatcher.

I am an advocate of official British List as per the British Ornithological Union (BOU) and my list is currently 498. In the past I have worked for Nature Conservancy Council (Natural England) and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust as a Biological Surveyor (Projects: Ancient semi-natural woodland, Calcareous Grassland, Hay Meadows and Stone Curlew) and I have a degree in Environmental Biology. I have created my own bespoke dbase recording system that works as a field notebook after looking at what was available in the market place.

I need to be happy with the identification of the bird I am looking at. The devil is in the detail. I have experienced too many mass delusions. There is no such thing as luck; success is a result of your actions. If you do not make the effort and go, you will not see the bird. I see dipping as just one of those things, except when the bird is picked up and put into a cardboard box (so do not mention The Ovenbird). I hate suppression and believe that with a little people management any situation can be managed. Being the County Recorder does put me in the firing line.

Name: Andrew Bluett    

Field Notes:  Born in the Forest of Dean (at The Dilke 'Ospital O' But) and raised on the banks of the Severn at Newnham, truly a Gloucestershire endemic…!

Occupation - a job to die for - I am a building surveyor looking after 250 pubs across seven counties from Northants down to the M4 between Bristol and Slough.

Favourite sites - the Forest of Dean and north-west Scotland and The Hebrides where I've spent time in most of the last 38 years watching anything that breeds there or passes through. Other than that I've spent time birding in many European and north Mediterranean countries and even managed a few days in Brazil in 1999. Next area to aim for is the high Arctic.

Interests - more interested in breeding birds than twitching for "lost souls", the only thing I've ever really travelled for was the Durham Bee-Eaters a few years ago. I've been lucky enough to spend time watching most Scottish species from sea level to the high tops on and around their breeding grounds but still hope that one day on a beach somewhere, I'll stumble across a resident Turnstone with chicks!

I've spent a lot of the last 5 years researching the history of the Marsh Warbler in Gloucestershire, a story that began in 1886 and ended in 1985 so far as breeding was concerned and published a summary article in The Gloucestershire Naturalist (No 18, June 2007). I was fortunate to see the last of the Marsh Warblers in Glos and Worcs in the early 1980s, but more recently travelled to Belgium, Holland and France for first hand experience and to gather comparative data, helped by ringers and nest recorders over there. This has become a bit of an obsession but a book is in preparation with the hope that it will be published in 2 or 3 years time.

I am the membership secretary of The Gloucestershire Naturalists' Society, and enjoy butterflies almost as much as birds.

Name: Andy Chapman    Scientific Name: Rugidus hansumus

Field Notes:  Migrated north from the Somerset wetlands in the late 1990’s now frequents areas of Gloucestershire, particularly around Quedgeley in small boggy marshes where he is often found associating with Jack Snipe in the winter. Often seen chasing his own tail whilst seeking the latest rarity but goes missing for long periods and can be difficult to tick off. Normally gregarious, seen in the company of the Quedgeley Boys (a loose flock comprising of Paul Masters, Mark Hobson and Andy and sometimes even The Gloster Birder himself) or, during the breeding season (out of shopping season) his mating partner Mhairi. First Gloucestershire tick was Two-Barred Crossbill at New Fancy View in 1998 – has gone downhill since then. Favourite worldwide birding area is Mhairi’s nest site in the Highlands of Scotland.

Website: http://www.qaca.org.uk

Name: Steven James Dark aka (Are you married). Scientific name - Dunnicus cambrensis

Plumage: Pied though mainly grey in older adults. 

Song: Not very musical especially for sp. cambrensis. 

Jizz: Very controlled but laid back approach to almost everything. 

Distribution: World wide, locally quite rare and localised. 

Brood size: three 

Field Notes: Social species, often seen in a mixed flock at the Forge Inn Whitminster. 

I first found an acceptable outlet for my interest in birds when I joined the Gower Ornithological Society (GOS). At approximately the same time I became a member of the RSPB West Glamorgan Members Group. I am still a member of both societies. I served on various committees in both organisations before finally becoming chairman of the RSPB members group. During this period, through the enthusiasm of fellow GOS member David Hanford, I discovered the delights of foreign birding and though at this stage it was mainly associated with Europe especially Spain further destination soon followed.

I particularly love birding when it is associated with foreign travel. I have now birded all over Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, North and Central America and Australia. I am just back from a birding trip to Uganda where the highlight wasn't the 500+ species of birds but the 24 strong family of Gorillas we trekked. I also enjoy birding to places in Europe that I haven't visited before for example my last trip was with Anser to Iceland, (Read the report on the Anser web site at: http://www.anserbirding.com) a destination I have always wanted to visit because of my strong interest in the Earth Sciences. I am also not averse to a twitch or two if it's for something memorable and rarely seen in Europe. Examples would be the Black Lark in North Wales or the Azure Tit in Finland.

I am not a great patch or even county birder and have become even less so in recent years mainly because of my shift working pattern. However, I do whenever possible still try and get to Slimbridge with often a side trip to Frampton thrown in for good measure.

My main birding interest these days is my World life list which is currently just over 3000. Not a huge total but a list I can compile and enjoy for the rest of my life while enjoying the double benefit of visiting some of the World's last remaining natural wonders. I don't even know what my British list is though I do know it was well over 300 when I lost interest and started to concentrate on my World list.

Name: Terry Fenton   

Field Notes:  A native of Durham, he learnt his birding on the mean mudflats of Teesmouth and feels a great affinity with the Severn estuary. Originally employed with the Forestry Commission he arrived in Gloucestershire in 1980. He considers himself lucky to have seen Gloucestershire's breeding Marsh Warblers before they disappeared. More recent birding highlights include seeing Aquatic Warbler and Glossy Ibises at WWT. He recently recovered from a bad case of 'CLD' and now spends his free time 'atlasing'. He is grateful to the more active Gloucestershire birders and The Gloster Birder for his county list which stands at 221.

Name: Rich Ford   

Field Notes:  Richard is a fairly frequent migrant from South Gloucestershire where he is a regular on the Severnside patch. Most of his time in Gloucestershire is spent at Slimbridge where he can usually be found in the vicinity of the restaurant. He is usually sporting a fairly vacant look on his face due to too much work during the week. He was once heard to call " It's my round what are you drinking" but this is seldom heard these days, and several local experts have predicted a flock of Eskimo Curlew at Saul Warth as being more likely than hearing this call again. Rich married Hayley in 1994 and has a young son and daughter, who can often be seen throwing seed indiscriminately around the WWT grounds. They have both inherited their father's liking of the chocolate brownies in the restaurant. He is also rather fond of the Forest of Dean and Frampton-on-Severn.

Website: http://richardsbirdingdiary.blogspot.com/

Name: Mark Hobson   

Field Notes: Seldom seen during weekdays where seems to prefer staring hours upon hours in to a monitor. Have been in to birding since a visit to WWT Slimbridge many moons ago, though only became a fully fledged birder in the last 10 or so years. My favourite habitat/ destination must be the Forest of Dean with Frampton a close second.

Name: Andy Jayne

Field Notes: Glos county recorder 1992-2000 and now steals info from The Gloster Birder for Birdwatching Magazine. Started submitting records in 1978, aged 13. Usually birds west of the Severn, particularly Walmore Common and the Forest of Dean where Nightjars and Firecrests are two of my favourite species. Coombe Hill Meadows is also a favourite spot . An annual visitor to Cornwall and Scilly in the past, but in recent years Lundy has become my favourite getaway. Glos list includes some goodies such as Red-breasted Goose, American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Velvet Scoter, Black-throated Diver, Storm Petrel, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Laughing, Franklin's and Ross's Gulls,
Roseate Tern, Barred Warbler, Isabelline Shrike and Arctic Redpoll. Have spent many summers hoping for a Honey Buzzard without any luck. Also enjoys cycling, various live music, real ale and has made around 500 appearances
for Westbury United football club, missing quite a few good birds as a result!

Name: Jake King

Field Notes: Talented artist, walking-stick maker, and often believed to be of the same family, even a brother of The Gloster Birder, but this is just a scurrilous rumour mainly put about by Jakey. All-round comedian with a taste for Guinness. Enjoys birding around his local patch at Eastington, where he has turned up some good birds over the years. Likes to twitch, but not always at the drop of a hat, to his cost at times. Was with The Gloster Birder at the never-forgotten fogbound Caerlaverock White-tailed Plover twitch. The fog was apparently very aesthetic and excellent to paint but the bird had long gone. Another Scilly regular and known as the Legendary Gugh-man.

 Website: http://www.ramblerstick.co.uk/

Field notes by Mike.

Name: Gordon Kirk   

Field Notes:  County organiser for BTO atlas and Gloucestershire atlas projects.

ID: See left (display posture with Leicas on the right)

Range: Stroud (that's SO80 if you're atlasing).

Home patch: Ruscombe and Standish Woods, Edge Common.

Habits: Generally rather lurking and seldom seen - often in office environment doing atlas admin! Frequent visitor to Slimbridge, but often confined to play areas, tending grandchildren.

Contact: Gordonkirk@aol.com 

Field Notes:  James Lees was born in Bath in 1980 and has been a lover of birds and wildlife from a very young age. After graduating from Lackham College he spent several years working in a variety of UK Bird Observatories as well as a year at Rock Point Bird Observatory, Ontario Canada. James is currently Reserve Warden at WWT Slimbridge where he has worked for three years managing 800 acres of wetland for the benefit of all wetland wildlife. At Slimbridge he leads a variety of walks and talks for the public including Birdwatch Mornings, commentated wild winter bird feeds and Land Rover Safaris around the private reserve. He has travelled extensively looking at all kinds of birds and wildlife. His travels have taken him to Kenya, Europe, California, South Carolina, and Canada, where he visits his wife's family annually. Most recently, he had the honoured position of representing the WWT on a month-long expedition to Madagascar in search of the rare Madagascar Pochard. James loves all aspects of wildlife but specialises in birds. When he is not away on a foreign trip he is an avid patch watcher at Slimbridge.

Website: WWT Sightings

Field Notes: Gloucester born and bred and married to Gill since 1982 who is very patient and understanding when it comes to my birding and have two great grown up sons who are still living at home.  I have been interested in the natural world since I was young and in particular birds. After twenty years of volunteering for various organisations I decided in 2005 to do things for myself and concentrate on seeing more species than the regular small number I would see every year in the County. During the week I am usually found sat behind a CAD terminal watching my pager. I joined the County 200 club at my first attempt in 2006, which was great fun but sometimes frustrating and tiring. I enjoy birding Severn Vale and recently contracted the Scilly bug which I believe is hard to cure. I am now interested in increasing my UK list and enjoy travelling around the country seeing different birds usually in the company of some of the other local lads, which certainly adds to the experience. 

Name: Ben Macdonald   

Field Notes:  I'm at Uni at the minute, can't drive, have to twitch by train or scrounge lifts, love the Forest of Dean and am working on getting my UK list past the magic 300. A nomadic species that nonetheless maintains an isolated foothold in Gloucestershire, especially around Slimbridge, with one foot never far from the graves of Parkend Cemetery. The need to forage for new rarities has recently increased nomadic tendencies, with sightings as far apart as Norfolk and Scotland. Locals often appear bemused by the sudden apparition of this rare visitor, and on one occasion - involving said species falling off train clutching tripod - news was rapidly put out and a large crowd, consisting mainly of chavs and stations drunks, were able to enjoy such an unusual sight. Whilst native species appear attracted to this wanderer and often give themselves up, migrants take one look and flee, fearing the bold plumage of the ski-jacket and the fast, erratic movements and accompanying shouting  - at what often turns out to be a Woodpigeon. So far, this phenomenon has resulted in Fair Isle instantly becoming bird-less during peak season last year, the true reason behind what many simply refer to as "a bad year". More recently, Norfolk became unaccountably crap during what the Punks described as "monster conditions" when said species migrated there with Rich Ford last weekend. This summer he is off to the continent, so expect Gloucestershire’s first passage of Great Auk to follow suite.

Website: www.freewebs.com/benmacdonaldbirding

Field Notes:  Natural habitat – prefers woodland or wetland areas rather than urban areas, Range – locally common in Gloucestershire, occasional accidental vagrant to other counties and also a brief summer visitor to other countries, Food – omnivorous, especially fond of pasta dishes, likes to occasionally wash down food with fermented grape juice, Song – unmusical, attempted imitation of popular songs, Breeding – married to Linda and has two teenage daughters who think their dad is a taxi driver, Field behaviour – quite approachable and is very witty (at least he thinks he is).

Other notes – Paul got his first binoculars at the age of 14 (in 19 mumble-mumble), but contracted CLD in more recent years. Favourite county birding sites: Gloucester-Sharpness canal at Hardwicke/Quedgeley, Slimbridge WWT and Nagshead.

Name: David Owen

Field Notes:  Got into birding at an early age thanks to the Observers Book of Birds, two fantastic teachers at Marling School and a best mate who went on to become warden of the Fair Isle observatory - he still lives on the island. Distracted (but not entirely) for many years by football, cricket and beer. Got back into it, and contracted CLD, when happened upon The Gloster Birder website, almost by accident five or six years ago. Lives in Chalford and married to Michele with a brood of five kids, all of whom have fledged and flown the nest.

Name: Steve Owen   

Field Notes:  Moved to Gloucestershire in 1980 and has lived in Winchcombe for the last 25 years. Taught Physics at Pate's Grammar School in Cheltenham for 20 years but now enjoying retirement. Had a big year in 2006 when cracked the 200 barrier for the county and still managed 3 weeks on the Scillies. A member of NCOS, favoured patch is the Cotswold scarp edge around Winchcombe and grid square SP02 but can be seen anywhere in the county. Is rumoured to possess a mobile phone though this is yet to be confirmed. Other interests include Hill Walking, Cycling and Athletics. Addicted to foreign travel and is fortunate to have birded all the continents of the world but nothing compares with a cold windy day on the river at Fretherne...cough splutter.

Name: Dave Pearce   (Hill Troll)

Field Notes:  I arrived here from the south more than 30 years ago, initially living in Prestbury. I could see Cleeve Hill rising behind my house and was inevitably drawn towards it and the other high parts of the escarpment. Often, although hill walking for hours, I saw very little. Eventually I joined the North Cotswold Ornithological Society and I was introduced to special places and saw and recognised many more birds. After two decades, and for about 8 years before I retired, I worked down at Berkeley and this introduced me to waders and sea birds. I am still staggered by the number of birds at WWT Slimbridge, especially in the winter. I now spend most of my time ranging more widely on the Cotswolds, together with occasional visits to the river and the Forest of Dean, but I am always envious of those who live near the river.

Name: Phil Pope   

Field Notes:  My other hobby is bell ringing (church bells that is) and I spend about as much time on that as on birding, consequently I frequently dip on birds by not being available at the right time. I keep promising to take a mobile out with me but hardly ever remember, consequently I frequently dip on birds......... etc etc.

I like to bird abroad once a year and have a world list of around 1700, but I prefer quality to quantity. My best birds in Glos have been Wilson's Phalarope, Ross's Gull, Pallas's Warbler and Baird's Sandpiper. 

My most wanted birds in Glos are White-rumped Sandpiper and Aquatic Warbler and in the world its Snowy Owl and Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

I'm married to Anne and have two sons, one at Uni and one sixth form.

Name: Mike Smart   

Field Notes:  " I joined the Gloucestershire Naturalists aged eleven (same time as John Sanders!), and it changed my life: I saw the 1953 Dowdeswell Great Northern Diver, found the 1953 Frampton Snow Bunting and the 1956 Saul Red-throated Diver, and have never looked back.  Lived in Tunisia in the 1960s, and maintain strong links with that country (as my wife comes from there) and have just co-authored a book on the Birds of Tunisia.  Went to work in Iran in the 1970s just after the conference in Ramsar (a city on the Caspian) where the World Wetland and Waterbird Convention (the "Ramsar" Convention) was established.  Returned to Gloucestershire in 1974 to work at Slimbridge for the international body that ran Ramsar.  In the early 1980s, the Glos Ornithological Coordinating Committee (GOCC) was established in my sitting room, with the object of streamlining recording in the county.  Went to work in Switzerland for the Ramsar Secretariat in 1991 and found, slightly to my surprise, that GOCC was still operating effectively on my returned to Glos in 1998.  Since then I have done most of my birding in the Severn Hams, which seems to me under-watched in comparison to the Slimbridge area; I also hope to spend more time on the west side of the estuary (Lydney to Beachley), another excellent but neglected area.
"Am very bad at saying no, so find myself filling lots of voluntary roles: I reckon I owe a debt of gratitude to GNS, of which I am currently Chairman, but am also BTO Rep, Chairman of GOCC (it's supposed to be a revolving chairmanship, but it's got stuck), and a Trustee of the Wildlife Trust.  I escape to Coombe Hill or Ashleworth as often as I can, though."

Name: Richard Tyler

Field Notes: Brought up in rural North Devon. Moved to Gloucestershire in 1989. Always been passionate about wildlife and, in particular, birds. Got first bird book (Spotting Birds) at five years of age and binoculars at eight. When not on call, or operating on horses, spends as much time as possible birding. Travelled quite extensively but will never get enough of Western Palaearctic birds. Enjoys local Cotswold birding with some other NCOS members, also Forest of Dean and the Severn in Spring. Almost caught CLD in 2007 but managed to shake it off. Will always have an affinity with the South West. Three women in my life, my very understanding (resigned) wife Rachel and my two teenage daughters. My daughters show a mild interest but find my “obsession” hard to understand. They provide me with good entertainment when I am not out in the field! Appreciate all the work that goes into The Gloster Birder web site keeping myself and many others up to date with what is around in the county.      

Name: Graham Watson aka The Great Dipper

Field Notes:  Usually arrives just after the bird has gone (or causes the bird to disappear according to the less generous!).  Can give and take abuse with the best of them! Recently returned to 'proper birding' after a lifetime dealing with trainee hooligans in the classroom. Failed dismally to join the Gloster200 Club but probably created new mileage and petrol consumption records in the attempt!  Still prone to occasional attacks of CLD and shares with Mike an irrational fear of seeing a single Magpie first thing in the morning. "That’s the day gone then".

Torn between watching the bird and taking photos of bits of it that no-one wants to see.  Married to an 'eagle eyed' part-time birder (she saw the Rufous Bush Robin when I was looking the other way!) and have somehow managed to collect grandchildren.