General news and views

Diary 2003

Dec 31 Well that's it for another year! Firstly sorry for the lack of recent updates, blueyonder experienced the Millennium bug three years late and crashed nationally at midnight on New Year's Eve, internet, TV, the works. The County rarities just kept on coming in 2003 starting with Green-winged Teal and overwintering Little Bunting in early January and not stopping until the Water Park's Yellow-browed Warbler at the year's end. My thanks to all the finders who turned up all the goodies. My thanks too to all the contributors to the site this year and especially to the photographers who have brought the site alive to make it what it is. Please keep doing it in 2004. I've put a new poll on for you to vote for your favourite site photo of 2003, which runs until the end of March. The site continues to run unfunded and without any membership fees and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, if anyone would like to help with funding or huge cash donations then you know where I am. On a personal note it's been a great year. A good selection of lifers, with Black Lark and Baltimore Oriole being the best of the best. Gloucester played some great rugby, England did even better and Wolves made the Premiership, even though it looks to be temporary. I hope you all have a great bird-filled year in 2004. I'll see you out there somewhere.

Congratulations to all who participated in the Gloucestershire Birding League again, it's been fun. Well done to Richard who pipped Paul by one species. In addition most of us saw Siberian Chiffchaff, Caspian Gull and White and Blue-headed Wagtails which weren't counted in the totals. If you want to get involved in 2004 just send me your totals. I honestly believe 200 is possible, will 2004 be the year to do it. Also a special mention to Tony Eveleigh who achieved 187 for the third year running.

Dec 29 Just when I had hung my bins up until New Years Day, Jeremy Squire found a cracking Yellow-browed Warbler on Pit 31, CWP. So I leapt in the car and got lucky, after missing all seen in the County over the last 25 years. A County tick for nearly all who made it there this afternoon. Amazing that this should take over from the County's other most recent rarity, the Red-throated Diver, at the same site. That brings up my target of 190 species in the County, despite still missing Grey Partridge. Congratulations also to Paul Taylor who got to his target of 195 and looks like finishing top of the league with just two days to go

Dec 28 It seems that only about 50% of the people I sent out a Christmas Card to couldn't see it and I don't know why - so here it is online for all with best wishes click here

Dec 27 Gordon Hodgson sent me this picture of the female American Robin at Godrevy, Cornwall taken today in atrocious weather conditions.

Dec 19 An afternoon dash to Oxford was well worthwhile when I connected with the first-winter male Baltimore Oriole, which was a life tick for me. This must surely be one of the rarest garden birds in mainland England for a very long time.

Dec 18 Today I am pleased to put on-line Duncan Dine's Wintering Wallcreeper in Northern Spain article click here or go to Articles for this and others.

Dec 14 Today I am pleased to put on-line Dave Pearce's Northern Greece Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others. Following a good couple of weekends at Frampton today turned into a very good day when I caught up with Snow Buntings at WWT followed by a Red-throated Diver in the Water Park. The diver is a very scarce bird in the County and was only my second County record in nearly 25 years.

Nov 28 I received the following from Dave Pearce today: "In view of the lack of really good birds in Gloucestershire at the moment, there may be some merit in considering posting on the website good birding sites just outside the county? For example, the notes below may well be of interest to people new to the region. Purple Sandpipers winter at Battery Point near Portishead, I believe from the Point eastwards to the pier. To view it is essential to be there at high tide (probably the higher the better) when they will appear near the shipping light at the Point. Look carefully just to the right and below the light and when you have decided there are no birds present, look again more carefully and for five times longer. They are easily overlooked even at 20m in full view on the rocks and are often out of sight between rocks. Once the tide has begun to drop, I believe they move towards the pier along the north facing shore and are generally out of sight behind the rocks below. Only one seen today on the 28th November but up to seven reported last winter in December. There is a nice cafe by the lake if the excuse to be there is a family day out."

Nov 23 A fabulous, nerve-jangling win for England in the Rugby World Cup Final yesterday. Brilliant stuff! Now perhaps we can all get back to some birding.

Nov 16 Its been really quiet at the moment and I guess most people have been into the rugby more than birding. Great win for the boys today, pray they can repeat it next Saturday and I hope it pours with rain again. Today's Black-necked Grebe is, to my knowledge the fourth of the year but we could really do with a Slavonian or Red-necked to finish the year off nicely.

Nov 04 Please note the new link for the Gloucestershire Naturalists Society (GNS) is www.glosnats.org.uk

Nov 02 I have been away for the week so apologies for the absence of reports. Normal service is now resumed. There was belated news of a female/juvenile Black-throated Thrush reported at the south end of Frampton village green in Horse Chestnut trees on Saturday 25th October, which could conceivably still be in the area so check those thrush flocks. Also a juvenile Sabine's Gull at the Trust today briefly and was a great tick for those who happened to be there.

Oct 08 I have received this from Ian Ralphs, secretary of GOCC.

New chairman of the county records committee Richard Baatsen was elected chairman of the GOCC county records committee at last weeks meeting. Effectively this makes him the new county bird recorder.

Sep 28 I went to see the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Northwick Warth this morning. It was seen early morning before I arrived, then went missing for two hours, before showing well if always a little distant. Also here Mediterranean Gull, Rock Pipit, three Sand Martins and Wheatear as well as a lot of common waders including 20+ Turnstones.

Today I am pleased to put on-line Andrew Bluett's September 2003 Costa del Sol Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others. Please read, especially if you are on a committee that thinks Booted Eagles don't make sea crossings!

Sep 27 I received this picture of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper taken by Paul Bowerman, which was found at Northwick Warth, South Gloucestershire today by Paul. Paul's Severnside Birds can be found at Severnsidebirds.

Sep 19 I am pleased to have a new article on site tonight with pictures of the Aquatic Warbler in Gloucestershire. Many thanks to John Wells.

Sep 12 Many of you may have seen the colour-ringed Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit at WWT recently. Andrew Bluett has provided this additional information about the bird - "re/ this colour ringed bird - red above yellow on left, yellow above orange on right tibias. I have been in touch with Tomas Gretar Gunnarsson from Iceland who tells me that this bird was ringed on 05/07/2002 at Kaldaðarnes, S-Iceland 63 55N 21 12W as an adult breeding female. Sightings since then: 05/07/2002 at Kaldaðarnes, Iceland then early August 2002 at Goldcliff near Newport." I saw this bird on August 22nd and Andrew saw it on the 25th, although I only noted the rings on the left leg as it's right leg was firmly tucked up.

Sep 11 Today I am pleased to put on-line Gruff Dodd's Thailand Trip Report for February/March 2003 where he connected with the near mythical Spoon-billed Sandpiper click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others.

Talking of sandpipers I see that Semi-palmated Sandpiper is currently leading the poll. I wonder how many of you would be confident of identifying one out on the estuary? Especially as one claimed on Oct 13th 1968 by a well-respected birder was later withdrawn by the observer "when the full complexities of stint identification became apparent" (Brit.Birds72, p.265). I struggled with them in Florida, I know now why lots of Americans just lump them as "peeps". I've plumped for Pied-billed Grebe, at least I'll know one when I see it.

Sep 06 Today I had a pleasant day on Portland Bill with Richard P, Gerry, Paul and Gordon H. We got all the scarcities that were still there including Wryneck, Melodious Warbler and Rose-coloured Starling (picture below by Gordon) as well as Wheatears (lots), Whinchats, Redstart and White Wagtails. Also Mediterranean Gull, Little Egret and Sandwich Terns at Ferry Bridge. Wrynecks especially gave us the runaround missing two before we finally connected with one at the Bill. Worth the wait though, a cracking bird, now where's that Glos one?

Sep 02 Today I am pleased to put on-line my August Portugal Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others.

Sep 01 I was alerted to this new site covering Chew Valley Lake tonight, definitely worth a look, click here.

Aug 30 Congratulations to Paul and Sherri Taylor on the birth of their daughter, Tegan, this weekend. Best wishes to you all from all of us.

A quiet weekend so far with the emphasis more on sport than birds so far. First visit of the season to Kingsholm today where Gloucester played out a draw 17 apiece with Leinster. Also the first point for Wolves at last.

There has been a Hen Harrier in the Frampton/WWT area since yesterday, which I will try and track down tomorrow, an unseasonal find for Phil Pope. Also a Red-backed Shrike has been just outside the County at Severn Beach today, let's hope it comes north.

Aug 26 A new feature on-line tonight, an opinion poll, let me know what you think and also if you have any birding topics you want submitted to public opinion. It's just a bit of fun and you can only vote once.

Today I am pleased to put on-line Dave Pearce's Bulgaria Trip Report for May 2000 click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others.

Aug 22 I'm back from the Algarve where I had a nice sunny break, four life ticks and many other good species too. I'll post a trip report soon. I couldn't update yesterday as promised because Blueyonder was down. I see I've missed yet another County Wryneck, but it looks like most others did too. Normal service should now be resumed

Aug 13 The site won't be updated now until Thursday 21st August. I suggest if you find anything out of the ordinary and you want to share post it on the Message Board. Its that place where most of you never go

. Don't find anything too good.

Aug 11 I just got back from a weekend in Cornwall taking in the annual Scillonian III pelagic yesterday. I went with Gerry and we got the weekend off to a good start when we connected with the Woodchat Shrike at Trevose Head on Saturday night. A super bird and my first juvenile of this species. Also here were three Pied Flycatchers and two Corn Buntings. We then tried for the Spotted Crake at Marazion but the weather and fading light was against us. The only place in western Europe where it wasn't hot and sunny. We did have a Mediterranean Gull on the beach here. The pelagic wasn't a classic because there were no large shearwaters apart from one Sooty Shearwater. There has just been no large shear passage yet, although we did have Cory's Gannet and Cory's Gull

. Two adult Sabine's Gulls together were very nice. As the weather was a long way short of a heatwave (I only managed to brave being without a coat on deck for 30 minutes), the light was very good, so I personally, and I'm sure many others, had best ever views of Wilson's Petrel's which came very close. Best moment of the day for me was a school of six Common Dolphins breaching and corkscrewing through the air alongside the ship.

Aug 04 Today I am pleased to put on-line Dave Pearce's Northern Spain Trip Report for April/May 1999 click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others.

Aug 03 A typically quiet summer weekend with little to report. One or two early signs of migration but still a bit early. This afternoon the family canoed the eight miles from Ross to Kerne down the River Wye in Herefordshire. I even saw a few birds the best being a Common Sandpiper, six Mandarins, seven Cormorants roosting, a few Sand Martins still attending nest holes and 3+ Kingfishers. Whether any of these are notable for Herefordshire I don't know. (Tony?).

Jul 29 Today I am pleased to put on-line Dave Pearce's Lesbos Trip Report for April 2001 click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others.

Jul 28 Today I am pleased to put on-line Terry Fenton's second Lesbos Trip Report, this time for May 2003 click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others. As I now receive many Trip Reports please visit this page for a couple of guidelines which would help me tremendously in processing them if you do contribute.

Jul 27 Today I am pleased to put on-line Dave Pearce's Slovakia Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others. As I now receive many Trip Reports please visit this page for a couple of guidelines which would help me tremendously in processing them if you do contribute.

Jul 26 A successful twitch after work today with Paul Francis for the Lesser Sand Plover at Pennington marshes in Hampshire. A cracking bird and well worth the effort. I've now not missed a bird this year when I've been wearing my Gloucester Rugby shirt, I don't think I dare leave it off now when a tick is at stake.

Jul 19 Today I am pleased to put on-line Terry Fenton's Lesbos Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others. As I now receive many Trip Reports please visit this page for a couple of guidelines which would help me tremendously in processing them if you do contribute.

Jul 19 Another day, another tick. I went with Paul Taylor and Richard Baatsen to Northants this morning in the hope of catching up with the elusive Caspian Tern, which had been touring the pits in the Stanwick area. It had not been seen since 7am when we arrived at Stanwick at about 12:40pm, but our timing was perfect for not only did it fly in at 1pm but it pitched on a spit and gave excellent views to all comers for the next couple of hours. A British tick for Paul and I and only the second in Britain for Richard.

Jul 18 A new website which may be of interest to all travelling birders is Eurobirding
http://www.eurobirding.com/tripreports/ an index of trip reports available on the net.

Jul 15 As most of you will know by now the post of County Recorder is currently vacant. When an appointment is made details will be made available here. Richard Baatsen will be acting as a contact/collection point whilst there is a vacancy in the County Recorders role. For further information please click here.

Jul 13 Yesterday I dipped my third County Bittern of the year, I'm now getting really good at it, but there will be other chances. Juvenile Redstarts were good to see at Ashleworth Ham yesterday, this site is now providing an easier chance of catching up with them than the Forest. With Bridgette away for the weekend I am now car-less so I'll have to hope nothing too special turns up. I'm having to sit in the garden and drink beer whilst watching the dragonflies at our new pond and the butterflies, keeping a careful eye on the skies for a rare swift or gull (says he hopefully). Life is tough.

Today I am pleased to put on-line Andy and Mo's Portugal Trip Report. Click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others.

Jul 06 I had a pleasant mornings birding with Gerry Shilham and Richard Price today. We successfully saw the male Red-footed Falcon at Burnthouse Lane G.P.s near Reading. This was a beautifully coloured bird, which gave excellent views and was well worth the trip. With this year's national influx I think we have been unlucky not to have got one in the Water Park. A bonus was the fly-over of two Red Kites and one or two Hobbies.

Jun 29 I've been away at the in-laws for the weekend and managed to slip away to East Anglia at 4am yesterday. First stop was the Lesser Grey Shrike near Great Yarmouth, a life tick for me. Then it was off to Lowestoft for the long-staying Sabine's Gull. Then back to the Brecks to dip Golden Pheasants but connect with the Stone Curlews at Weeting. A good morning out,

Jun 20 Today I am pleased to put on-line my Belgium Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others.

Jun 10 Today I am pleased to put on-line David Pearce's Hungary and Romania Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others. There are now nearly thirty reports here with another six pending, have a look you may find one that's useful for planning your next sortie.

Jun 07 Today together with Gerry Shilham and Richard Price I successfully twitched the Black Lark at South Stack on Anglesey. We arrived at 8:15am only to be greeted with the news that the bird had flown off. After a cold wait of about half an hour it flew back in and gave brilliant views. An amazing bird. We also enjoyed the auks especially the Puffins and sorted out a Bridled Guillemot. Choughs were ever-present and we had good views of them feeding. We unsurprisingly failed with the Rose-coloured Starling, which was always going to be hit and miss, and also dipped the Squacco, which may have still been there (you could have hidden a herd of Wildebeest in all that habitat). Our last stop was at Bwlch Nant Yr Arian just after they had fed the Red Kites at 3pm. We had 23+ in the air together often swooping low over the lake to take morsels of food. Brilliant and all for the price of a car park ticket.

May 31 Well I'm back so normal service will be resumed immediately. I had a good holiday in Belgium and although I didn't do a lot of birding, it was hard work when I did. Nevertheless I still saw some very nice birds including White Storks, Spoonbills, Avocets, Kentish Plover, Black Terns, Short-toed Treecreeper, Marsh Warblers and Icterine Warblers. By far the most important event of the last week was my beloved Wolves making it to the Premiership after a wait of 19 years. I was glad to see you managed to be self-sufficient by using the Message Board. Do keep it up.

May 22 I'm off to sample the delights of Belgium for a week, hopefully to do a bit of birding too. Someone will be here to take phone messages but the site won't be updated (I'm not letting my daughters loose on it). I suggest if you find anything out of the ordinary you want to share you post it on the Message Board. Its that place where most of you never go

. Don't find anything too good - and come on you Wolves on Monday.

May 17 A really great day spent in the company of Richard Baatsen, Paul Taylor and Paul Francis. We travelled down to Dungeness in Kent at 4am, and by 7:15am I was watching my first life tick of 2003. The adult male Little Bittern gave stunning views until 8am when it flew into reeds. See pics on www.surfbirds.com We were so glad of our early start because we later learnt that it did not re-appear until 3:30pm! A walk around the RSPB reserve, the Obs and a short seawatch from the patch gave us a very respectable day list. Best birds included two Avocets, first-summer Little Gull and two first-summer Mediterranean Gulls. With the weather deteriorating rapidly at lunchtime we decided to head for home. News broke of not one but four Temminck's Stints at CWP Pit 85 as we were on the M25. We headed straight there and were all very pleased to see this County record flock of this rare little wader. We also just missed a Honey Buzzard which would have put the icing on the cake but you can't have everything, well not on a single day anyway.

May 11 I spent a very successful day in North Wales today with Richard Price and Gerry Shilham. We got every bird we hoped for except Red Grouse. Highlights included Black Grouse, Grasshopper Warbler, Whinchats, Redstart, three breeding plumaged male Eiders, Black Guillemots, Puffins, Choughs, Manx Shearwaters and a Red Kite. A Top Day.

I received this today from Vincent Jones at The Barn Owl Centre - "Dear All, After a lot of hard work we are now please to announce that Charity Status has been achieved. Our Charity Number is 1097410 & date of registration was 08 May 2003. We have also been told that we will be added to the central register on the Charity Commission web site during the course of next week. Page Link will be http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/showcharity.asp?regno=1097410
A special thanks - Vincent Jones, Centre Director, The Barn Owl Centre, www.barnowl.co.uk

May 08 This Bank Holiday weekend proved far from restful after a week already beset with chasing round. Firstly chasing after an all too brief Alpine Swift in the Water Park on Wednesday, which we all missed, although the Hobbies at Pit 57 were spectacular. The next day proved more successful with some of us catching up with an Osprey at Newent. Saturday early, I saw the Whooper Swan at WWT, a full-winged, unringed adult, which may have been the individual that wintered on the Gwent Levels. A couple of Little Gulls remained at Frampton Sailing Lake and my first Garden Warbler was here. The confused (and confusing) WillowChiff still sang its hybrid song. Sunday dawned with me at Woorgreens and I had stonking views of the Black-necked Grebe there. A female Ruddy Duck was more unusual. I also added a Whinchat, a Tree Pipit and a Spotted Flycatcher to my year list. A couple of Turtle Doves were here too and five Common Crossbills and two Hawfinches. Unbelievable news from Mark Hobson of a Waxwing at Nagshead saw me back in the Forest at dawn on the Monday and it was there. I also heard my annual Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, I don't see them anymore, and my first Pied Flycatchers of the season. Also another Hawfinch and a Goshawk were enjoyable.

An Alpine Swift at Minsmere, although tempting was just too far on my own, and late breaking news of the much-predicted Audouin's Gull also came too late. At least I've seen both abroad. In the evening I slipped away unnoticed to Frampton for an hour and enjoyed views of the Short-eared Owl amongst others. It was a beautiful sunset to end the Bank Holiday. All this birding - I really need a holiday

Apr 26 Today I am pleased to put on-line Phil Pope's South Africa Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others.

Apr 22 I have posted a mystery raptor through the Message Board for one of my regulars, but you can also get to it here. Don't be shy like last time please post your thoughts on the Message Board don't e-mail them direct to me.

Apr 21 I hope you all had a good Easter. I've managed a few hours birding over the weekend. The highlights included the Harbour Porpoise off Saul Friday morning, the Wood Warbler at the Sailing Lake (a patch tick) also on Friday. 6+ Red Kites around High Wycombe on Saturday on the way to the in-laws. Then I dipped the White-headed Duck at Shardeloes but returned Sunday morning and found it within 15 minutes. I last saw it chasing a female Ruddy Duck into the willows, so I have to ask should we be worried about these foreign invaders putting our Ruddy Duck population under threat?

. Finally today the wagtail flock at Frampton was a real treat. Also I have a couple of new links for you tonight the first is the Bristol Ornithological Club at www.boc-bristol.org.uk and the other Alan Gray's "Shearwater Coastal Cruises" from Pwllheli in North Wales at http://www.shearwater.info .

Apr 13 Today started well at Saul when I immediately latched on to the Kittiwake found last night and also had my first Ringed Plovers of the year. The day got very much better when at 8am a Great White Egret seemingly appeared out of nowhere and went right over my head and I watched it for three minutes as it steadily beat a path north. I couldn't relocate it despite searching in some of the obvious spots further upriver. This evening a timely call when returning home from a family party took me back to Saul, where I was only just in time to catch up with a lone Dark-bellied Brent Goose before it flew off south at 5:30pm. I also saw a few Common Terns and three male Wheatears, my first of the year, and much later than usual.

Martin McGill, who found the goose, informs me that Mid-Point at the WWT is now open.

Apr 11 I finish work at 1 on Friday's so today I took the opportunity to go to Tan Hill near Devizes to look for the Dotterel which has been there for most of the week. It didn't seem like a very good idea at first after getting stuck in traffic in Chippenham (bad mistake), a lung-bursting walk to the top of Tan Hill and over a hour wandering the plateau with no success and getting hypothermic. Eventually I found a map on a gatepost decided to walk in from the other end and nearly fell over the bird. So eventually I had stunningly close views, my first Dotterel since May 1998 on Bredon Hill. I was still stuffing itself contentedly when I left.

Apr 07 Today I am pleased to put on-line Gruff Dodd's Portugal Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others. Quite a good weekend with an early morning Cotswold run on Saturday, followed by a cracking male Ring Ouzel on Cleeve Hill (why oh why can't they come through Frampton) and my third Great Grey Shrike of the year (2nd in Glos). Sunday it was nice to welcome back Willow Warblers and especially Swallows. Despite a few notable dips in the Bird League I am still up on this time last year.

Mar 30 I have been away for the weekend at the in-laws. Yesterday I had both Raven and Cetti's Warbler, which although common enough here, are twitched in the Home Counties. Today I had a pair of Buzzards, which are equally scarce. The major highlight of the weekend came this morning when I drove up to Maulden Wood near Bedford to search for Lady Amherst's Pheasant. I had no luck at all and for the last couple of years I have been lucky to hear one call there. Just as I was about to leave the Warden drove up. He agreed with me that they were probably extinct there now, but suggested another small wood nearby, where he had seen a male throughout the winter. I drove there quickly and within five minutes I could hear the tell-tale grating call of a male, once heard never forgotten. Another five minutes of careful, cautious approach and I was within twenty feet of a gaudy, gorgeous male Lady Amherst's Pheasant. A brilliant success. I feel sure that these beauties may well be the next bird to leave the British List - see one soon if you can.

Mar 25 I am pleased to welcome Richard Cawsey to the League today. For the rest of you out there it's not too late to enter, and there are some notable omissions from last year still (You know who you are

). Give yourself a target this year, you might enjoy it. I really think 200 in the County is not impossible this year given the good start we have had even before most of the migrants have come in.

Mar 24 Today I am pleased to put on-line Gruff Dodd's Chile Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for these and others. Please be patient with the Chile trip it is a very large file.

Mar 21 A well-timed call from Tony last night took me straight from work to CWP. I was lucky enough to connect with a superb summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe (found by Andy Jayne) on Pit 57. I met up with Richard and we dashed off in hope of tracking down the Kumlien's Gull before dusk, which we didn't, but we found all the other County birders on Pit 12 where Martin McGill had found a Little Gull in the roost. Two very nice year ticks thank you.

Mar 17 A decent weekends birding when several of us strained the tolerances of our loving partners, whilst running up a decent list around the County. For me it included Cetti's Warbler, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, a perched (close) male Merlin, two Little Egrets, Chiffchaffs aplenty, three Avocets, three Short-eared Owls and a pair of Garganey to name but a few.

Mar 08 Bridgette and I had a very relaxing weekend away in Devon, with no children (hooray!) and even caught up with a few good birds. We saw Tundra Bean Goose, Glossy Ibis, Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Avocets, Little Egrets and Woodlarks amongst others. It seems you can't even slope off for a quiet weekend without the County birders being there too, but it was nice to see them. For those of you visiting Bowling Green Marsh The Lord Nelson in Topsham does wonderful food if you are taking the more relaxed approach.

Mar 04 I spent all weekend trying to catch up with the cranes in the County and failed dismally. The only consolation of the weekend was co-finding a Siberian Chiffchaff with Richard Baatsen and Steve Dark at Splatt Bridge on Saturday. A cracking bird! The gloom really set in Sunday morning when the five cranes set off east and were last reported over Harpenden in Herts (probably the same). So I was extremely pleased to take a call from Martin McGill this morning that a Common Crane had roosted late last night at Zeiss hide and even more pleased when the pager announced that it had returned tonight. I went straight down after work and Bingo, everything comes to he who waits, or chases his tail for miles in the car. Many thanks to Mike Fox, the only other birder in the hide, who let me look through his scope because I was unprepared. The only question that remains is whether this is one of the five returned from the Home Counties or a sixth bird?

Feb 26 Today I had a day off and started at Frampton early and was pleased to find 17 Ruff on plough with 500 Lapwings and a Golden Plover. I also managed to catch up with the wintering Spotted Redshank. In the afternoon I managed to catch up with the five re-located adult Common Cranes at Tortworth. This is the second time in my birding career I have seen cranes in spitting distance of Glos. The last was in Worcestershire a few years back which was also tantalisingly close to the border.

Feb 24 Today I am pleased to put on-line Jeremy Voaden and Tim Dodman's Orkney article click here or go to Articles for this and others.

Feb 23 Another good weekend with three Short-eared Owls and a Merlin at Frampton on Friday evening. This was followed by a Caspian Gull on Pit 16 Saturday and a Ring-necked Parakeet there this morning. Finally I drove into the Great Grey Shrike (not literally!) at Ampney Crucis and had excellent views. The Caspian Gull strongly resembled this one at Martin Reid's excellent gull site http://www.martinreid.com/cachp06.html . The parakeet has probably been around for a while as it was seen by Colin Treweke on 19th January.

Feb 20 Today I am pleased to put on-line Andrew Bluett's Halkidiki Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for these and others.

Feb 18 I have put a few of my favourite trip planning icons on the Home page, I hope you find them as useful as I do. Just click on the icon. Regarding the mystery wader, please post your suggestions on the Message Board, rather than mail me, so that the photographer can see your ideas.

Feb 17 I have posted a mystery wader through the Message Board for one of my regulars, but you can also get to it here. Please post your thoughts on the Message Board.

Feb 16 Well what a good weekend! First gather up lots of Brownie points by taking Bridgette to "Miss Saigon" on Valentine's Night. Follow up with a good round of sport results, particularly England winning the rugby and Wolves winning tonight in the F.A. Cup. Add a good round of birding, Saturday Short-eared Owl at Frampton, Sunday morning dip the Iceland Gull at CWP, but get the first Lesser White-fronted Goose for five years at WWT and in the evening catch up with the Iceland Gull, just when hope and light was fading. It finally dropped in right in front of us at 5:45pm, seen first by Bristol birder, Steve Preddy, who was the only one to stick it out with me. Top weekend.

Feb 15 Today I am pleased to put on-line Steve Dark's India Trip Report click here and Andrew Bluett's Majorca Trip Report click here or go to Trip Reports for these and others. Please be patient with the India trip it is a large file.

Feb 08 I had a good day out with Tony and Paul today around the Home counties. Our first stop was at Hedgerley in Buckinghamshire, where after an hours wait we had excellent views of the male Two-barred Crossbill together with 20+ Common Crossbills. There was also wing-barred male and female crossbills here to add to the confusion, but when the real McCoy arrived there was really no doubts. It was a cracker! Next we moved on to the Wraysbury area where we quickly saw c15 Ring-necked Parakeets. We dipped the Bracknell Waxwings next but as we had all seen some this year nobody minded too much. Our final stop was near Reading where we had a first-winter Caspian Gull, which required a bit of research at home before we could be sure.

I'll be at the Bird Fair at Slimbridge tomorrow at some stage and hope to see a few of you regulars there, as well as parting with some money again on the many stands.

Feb 02 I've been away at the in-laws for the weekend so apologies for the lack of updates. I've had an excellent weekend and managed some good birds too. Yesterday morning I saw the Potsgrove Great Grey Shrike at first light and year-ticked Green Woodpecker, Little Owl and Yellowhammer, but then dipped Waxwings near Henlow. However first thing this morning I caught up with a wonderful flock of 25+ Waxwings at Welwyn Garden City. They were at very close range and as ever were visually stunning. Then I went on up to Elstow pits near Bedford and ticked off the adult female Ferruginous Duck, probably the same one that was there last winter. I had superb close views here too. Just for good measure as dusk was falling on our journey home we saw a Red Kite being mobbed by two crows near Thame.

Jan 25 What a difference a day makes. Yesterday I went to Sharpness docks and trudged around for ages in search of the Black Redstart to no avail, but this morning I found it within minutes, in glorious sunshine and a Peregrine overhead for good measure. All I managed yesterday was a Rock Pipit and had to work hard for that. Prior to Sharpness this morning I went to Tidenham equipped for a long wait for the Little Bunting, but within a few minutes of meeting the only other birder there, Neil Pryce-Jones, it was showing brilliantly down to just a few yards and calling constantly. A successful morning.

Jan 19 I went to Norfolk today with Richard and Gerry. We arrived in atrocious conditions which looked set for the day, but fortunately cleared up by about 1pm. We saw many good birds starting with a Woodcock at Wolferton, Purple Sandpiper and Snow Buntings at Heacham, Eider at Hunstanton, Shore Larks, Twite and Velvet Scoter at Holkham as well as c10,000 Pink-feet and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Stiffkey. We finished at Warham Greens with a fabulous couple of hours which included the juvenile female Pallid Harrier, males and females of both Hen and Marsh Harriers, a Merlin, a first-winter Glaucous Gull (mobbing the Pallid Harrier, something that is geographically unlikely to be seen again), two Barn Owls and finally two Short-eared Owls. A magic day after an awful start.

Jan 16 I was saddened to hear of the death of Chris Mead who passed away in his sleep last night. He was just 62. There is a brief note here http://www.bto.org with an obituary to follow later. Birding will be all the poorer for his absence. My condolences to his family.

Jan 11 No sooner had I reported that the Little Bunting had probably gone, than it immediately reappears, so if you missed it before Christmas (and enjoy standing in the freezing cold for hours on end) then directions are on the sightings page for today.

I went to the CWP yesterday and had excellent views of the Smew on Pit 44. If you are new to birdwatching and have never seen a male Smew then I urge you to go, for this is an easy opportunity to see up to four males at close range. For downloadable maps of the area go to http://www.waterpark.org/downloads.html and click on Western Lakes Map. You can also get WinZip and Acrobat Reader here if you need it.

Also I would recommend you keep an eye on any trees that still have berries because with Waxwings in Kidderminster and Weston-Super-Mare today we must be in with a good chance.

Jan 08 I heard from Tony Eveleigh tonight that the Little Bunting seems to have left Tidenham Chase. He spoke to the Warden there today and he says there have been no confirmed sightings since December. A thorough search of the reserve was made on New Years Eve and it was not found, although the Reed Buntings are still present.

Jan 06 I have kicked off the year list table for 2003 today. If you wish to take part send in your scores. I am pleased to welcome Richard Baatsen to the League this year and know that Richard will offer a serious challenge. I believe it is entirely possible to top 200 species in the County in a good year. There were more than that last year and only a few required a bit of luck. Like Red Kite, Roseate Tern, Quail, Hen Harrier and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker for example all of which I missed.

Jan 05 This morning I did a good tour of the Forest with Gerry and Richard. It was incredibly quiet and it was difficult to find any birds at all, let alone the Forest specialities. However we did manage a few Crossbills and my first ever FoD Kingfisher. See Sightings for other birds.

Jan 04 Today I am pleased to put on-line Andy Oliver's Portugal Trip Report. Click here or go to Trip Reports for this and others. I had a good couple of hours at Slimbridge this morning seeing the Green-winged Teal at close range and also Little Stint and Pink-footed Goose, taking my County year list to 71 species (I wasn't going to do that anymore was I?).

Jan 01 A Happy New Year to you all, I hope it is a good one and filled with lifers.

I started the New Year with a trudge around Frampton in pretty miserable conditions. Best bird was a Little Egret which showed brilliantly in a field south of Splatt Bridge. I didn't have time to get to Slimbridge for the Green-winged Teal as we had visitors coming for lunch. I had to remind myself I was going to slow down this year and not chase everything, I'm sure it will stay for a while anyway.

I have moved the Sightings and Diary for 2002 to the Archives section.