Diary 2009      

Nov 24    The weekend before last was excellent when I caught up with Richard's Pipit, Leach's Petrel (albeit distantly) and a Sabine's Gull, but after that it went downhill. I missed the diver, which was initially a Black-throated and then morphed into Pacific following film evidence. I spent ages camped on the river at the weekend and although Black Redstart, four Shags and a Rock Pipit were nice, they didn't quite make up for the diver. Monday morning back to work, which was interrupted throughout the day with getting on for 30 texts to tell me what I'm missing. Thanks very much and I hope you all fall in!

At least Glaws made a mockery of the form book on Friday night when the beat the Cheetahs (Leicester Tigers for the uninitiated "Cheaters"). England sadly couldn't follow suit against the All Blacks but were at least better than last week. Wolves followed up being Arsenalled by getting Chelsea-ed by another big score, but at least they're not quite as bad as Wigan. 

Here's hoping the seabirds last until Friday and the Pacific Diver takes up residence on the Sailing Lake.

Nov 14    Happy Birthday Bridgette.

Nov 09    A good week starting with the visit of Australia to Kingsholm, a fun evening but not so great on the scoreboard. After that the sports news got worse with Wolves getting Arsenalled (like everyone else) and England forgetting to come out second half against Oz. Nice to see the boy Jonny back though.

Then whilst I'm stuck in Boots in Cheltenham on Saturday with the boss I get a message that there was a phalarope sp at WWT. I thought, that's nice probably Grey this time of year. Anyway as you all know now it transpired to be an adult WILSON'S PHALAROPE, but still not panicking as I had seen the July 1990 adult female I decided to go when I got home. Wrong, as soon as I got in the car it flew off. So I went Sunday instead in the pouring rain and a raging hangover from the previous night's family Engagement party. The bird was still there and proved the perfect antidote, another Glos blocker gone though!

On Friday it was pub night and it was very thin on the ground, with people without cars or with man-flu, although most recovered very quickly to get down for the Phal, you know who you are . Hopefully a few more will be there in December and I'll try and sort out a Christmas Quiz.

Oct 27    The English translation version of the "China Daily" had this to say about the warbler, very, very funny. Nice quote from Richard Millington and I can't say I noticed the birds "wings of fate" or its "buttocks" China Daily

Oct 25    Carpe Diem, Seize the Day (not "Go Fishing" as they said on The Inbetweeners). That's what I did yesterday following news of an EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER, a first for Britain, being found in Trow Quarry, South Shields. Not being able to find anyone who hadn't been already, was away on Scilly/Lundy or had family commitments. I travelled alone overnight straight through without stopping, leaving at 2:15am and arriving at 6:30am. A fairly large crowd of maybe 150 people had already assembled in the quarry at first light, and at 8:22am the ECW popped up into view. Initially it was pretty elusive and very busy, often chased by a Yellow-browed Warbler (which was useful for comparison). Then it settled down a bit and perched in the open giving stonking views. I didn't photograph it as my digiscoping is pretty variable at the best of times. Some great photos are available on Surfbirds. A crowd photo by Jason Stannage is below, that's me in the middle in the dodgy Wolves hat. The journey home took five hours - I'm sure there are speed restrictions from Leeds to Gloucester - but I didn't care, it was worth every single lonely mile.

Oct 21    Well I'm back from Scilly and it was the quietest week I have known there. However the supporting cast of Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warblers, Firecrests, Black Redstarts, Rose-coloured Starlings and Little Bunting to name a few were all in place, but it was the rarities that just didn't happen. However I won't write it off for the autumn just yet, there's still time for that Mega. My best moments were finding a Little Bunting, albeit briefly on St Martin's (although it did reappear later in the week) and refinding a Wryneck on St Mary's that had gone missing for a day or so. The Wryneck was particularly showy and the Little Bunting was particularly scruffy. Also we had good views of Minke Whales, Risso's Dolphins, a Basking Shark and Prickly Stick Insects. The company was excellent, as was the food and drink, the people and the places and also unfortunately the weather. Lovely for a family holiday but far too settled to bring any birds. 

Wryneck

The best bird of the week was the BROWN SHRIKE at Staines Moor on Sunday, but it would have been much nicer if it had been on Scilly, or better still at Frampton.

Brown Shrike 

Sep 16    Sometimes when the Mega alert goes on the pager when I'm at work I think please let it be either (a) something I've already seen or (b) on an offshore island I wouldn't go to anyway, but not today. Unbelievable news came through of a TUFTED PUFFIN in Kent, just three hours away. I knew I could never get away until Friday and then when it was gone in 15 minutes I spent the rest of the day thinking, please don't let it come back. Not until Friday anyway, stressful this twitching lark ain't it? Congrats to the lucky seven that saw it, what a find for patch worker Murray Wright. The ultimate blocker? Could be.

Sep 15    I received this reminder from Pam Bryant today - the Peter Scott exhibition started today at Nature in Art and runs until 18th October. Some of the work has never been shown before. http://www.nature-in-art.org.uk/index.html

Sep 11    I would like to thank Martin McGill of Anser Birding for sponsoring The Gloster Birder again. Despite repeated pleas for sponsorship over the years to meet the growing costs and time of running the website, Martin is the only one to sponsor me year after year, and for that I am very grateful.

I am pleased to put Bob Shiret's March 2009 Cyprus update report on-line click here, or go to the Trip Reports page for these and others. There are now 120 worldwide trip reports with a wealth of information and excellent photos available here.

Yet again the final pelagic of the season has been cancelled due to weather so that's that. Local birding for me I guess. The putative Marsh Warbler at WWT is still present today with opinion split between Marsh and Reed and I guess unless it is trapped it won't be resolved satisfactorily. With this in mind I am pleased to publish Andrew Bluett's excellent paper on The Marsh Warbler - A Gloucestershire Retrospective first published in The Gloucestershire Naturalist No 18 June 2007.

Sep 07    Another long weekend in Cornwall for me with Bridgette. I was due on a pelagic out of St Ives on Saturday but it was cancelled (for a third time) but as we'd paid up front for the guest house we went anyway. All in all it was a really good weekend and I even managed a lifer. The CITRINE WAGTAIL, which had disappeared for two days reappeared on Saturday at Marazion allowing me an easy tick after missing this bird over the years. Also we had two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, Balearic Shearwater, 1000's of Manxies and other year ticks including Stonechat (I know!), Rock Pipits, Arctic Terns, Razorbills and Kittiwakes. I can thoroughly recommend the Panalba Guest House as a reasonable place to stay and the Firehouse and the Alba restaurants for some great food. So for me it's back again next weekend, if the boat sails.

It's also very pleasing that the rugby is back and there is nothing more pleasing than beating Bath on the first day. James take note.

Aug 28    A bit of an update from me, I spent last weekend in North Cornwall with the family. It rained from Saturday night until Monday morning when we came home. I managed to year tick Fulmar and Shag at Tintagel on Saturday but that was it for birding. I did manage to shift a drop of Tribute ale (my favourite) at the King Arthur's Arms Inn  along with an all-day big breakfast in tribute to this fantastic result. 

Wednesday, I managed to tip off everyone to Terry Fenton's fantastic Wryneck at Witcombe but couldn't get there myself until it was too late because I didn't have the car. I hope all of you who drove past my house to tick it off feel suitably guilty. Never mind, I was back there before work on Thursday and enjoyed refinding it for myself. I make no apologies for all the pictures in the Sightings and to prove it here's another by Jon Mercer..

Wolves are back in the Prem and not disgraced so far and the rugby season is upon us soon and surely (please God!) Glaws can only get better.

Also I received a request to mention http://www.razorbillribs.co.uk from Daniel Worth who runs wildlife boats in North Pembrokeshire. They are happy to offer Bird Clubs/multiple trip discounts and would be more than happy to assist Clubs and individuals to plan field trips/vacations if appropriate. They are also extremely close to the Welsh Wildlife Centre at Cilgerran (another great birding site) and can offer a range of accommodation options including a '5 Daffodil' 6 bedroom house in Cilgerran itself or can recommend local B&B's, Caravan Sites, Youth Hostel accommodation etc. 

Aug 19    Completely out of the blue tonight I got an e-mail to say I had been selected by BBC Countryfile as one of the 50 Best Wildlife Websites in Britain, No 12 in the birding sites. Very chuffed! http://www.bbccountryfilemagazine.com/best-birdwatching-websites 

Also I've got to mention it and I know it won't last but Up The Wolves!

Aug 09    I managed to knock off the last two summer migrants in the Forest today - Turtle Dove and Spotted Flycatcher - but their future in the County is looking perilous. I also had a Willow Tit another seriously declining species. Today I have updated fully the Insect Gallery. I have tried to include something from everyone who has taken the trouble to submit. I am now really only looking to fill the gaps with species previously not in the Gallery and with that in mind would like to thank Paul Taylor for letting me use his great images of the rare High Brown Fritillary.

Jul 27    I am pleased to put Pam and Frank Bryant's June 2009 Nordic Cruise report on-line click here, or go to the Trip Reports page for these and others. There are now 119 worldwide trip reports with a wealth of information and excellent photos available here.

Jul 23    I haven't written anything for ages but mainly because I haven't done anything. About the only birding I have done was an evening down the Forest for Nightjars, which was successful, but I didn't see any Woodcocks for probably the first time ever. Spotted Flycatchers are very scarce this summer and I haven't seen one yet and Turtle Doves are rarer than Unicorn poo. Although I've been around the world one and a half times this year and have amassed a year list of over 420 species so far I have some glaring holes in my year list - no Spotted Flycatcher, but Taiga and Asian Brown, no Stonechat, but Siberian, no Rock or Water Pipit but Red-throated and Olive-backed, no Turtle Dove but Oriental - my list goes on like that but all things considered I don't think I'd swap.

Work has been pretty miserable as we have been on a four day week since June and today about 20% of the workforce got made redundant. At least I am lucky enough to have kept my job but it's obvious the Aeroengine business is in a deep hole and we haven't hit the bottom yet.

I have quite a lot of trip reports and other bits and pieces sent to me that I haven't published yet but I haven't really found the time or enthusiasm to do it but I will get things back on track soon, so please bear with me.

Hopefully the migration season is just starting and there will be some good birds around the corner to lift everyone's spirits. Typically on my enforced four day weekends there have been no birds to go for, but the minute I'm settled back at my desk yesterday than up pops that Blue-cheeked Bee-eater again in Kent. To be honest even if I'd got straight in the car, which I couldn't, I think I would have just missed it by about half an hour, which would have been worse than not going at all. Perhaps it'll turn up at Frampton or Scilly when I get there in October, now that would be a real fillip. 

Jun 20    I am pleased to put Mike Fox, Sean Murphy and Colin Murphy's May 2009 Lesvos trip report on-line click here, or go to the Trip Reports page for these and others. There are now 118 worldwide trip reports with a wealth of information and excellent photos available here.

Jun 14    I got my mojo back yesterday after a desperate run of dipping, the Rosefinch especially. Bridgette and I decided on a day on the Somerset Levels for some birding and photography. We left at half five and were at Ashcott Corner in just over an hour. I went for the LITTLE BITTERN, whilst Bridgette decided to try for Otters at the other end of the reserve. I didn't take long for the LB to show at Loxton Marsh, at first very briefly but then it circled the marsh at 7:35am giving everyone good views as it flew quite close in front of the gathered birders. I saw it once more before heading off to find Bridgette. On the way I had a nice view of an AMERICAN MINK. My first ever that hasn't been part of the coat, I guess the wardens would have been less impressed. We spent a couple of hours in Noah's hide but Otters weren't obliging so we set off for Glastonbury. After a Fully Monty in the Arcos Café we travelled the short distance to Collard Hill. After chatting to the wardens it didn't take us long to find 6+ LARGE BLUE butterflies, another first for me. We went back to the Levels then where Bridgette had another go for Otters but sadly they didn't show.

Jun 06    I am pleased to put Bob Shiret's May 2009 Lake Garda trip report on-line click here and Paul Aubrey's May 2009 Lesvos trip report on-line click here, or go to the Trip Reports page for these and others. There are now 117 worldwide trip reports with a wealth of information and excellent photos available here.

Jun 03    After the successful Portland/Dungeness weekend with three ticks in 24 hours everything has really hit the skids. Last week finding myself on an enforced holiday due to a work shutdown I finally went to Seaforth in Liverpool with Jake, where we spent 11 hours from dawn to dusk (well almost) dipping the long-staying Pallid Swift. Of course it was back yesterday. It’s my own fault for leaving it so long but as I have seen over 500 on the continent I couldn’t find the enthusiasm initially.

Then two days later I spent another fruitless half day in Devon dipping the Western/Semi-palmated Sandpiper. I only went on the strength of it possibly being Western as I have not seen them in Britain. I have got a nice sun tan though and have managed to grow back my beard whilst waiting. Then we come to the amazing singing Common Rosefinch at Ashleworth, this evening was my sixth failed attempt since Sunday. This bird has no routine at all and I guess I won’t be catching up with it, but I’ll probably keep trying.

May 17    A week spent getting wet on at least three occasions and generally not seeing any of the good birds. A trio of Roseate Tern, Pomarine Skua and Great White Egret evaded the many and were seen by only a fortunate few this week, although it's likely the egret is still around somewhere. A "seawatch" from Berkeley yesterday turned into just that, no birds and lots of "sea". Despite skuas and other seabirds stacking all week at Severn Beach very few made it north. They may as well have built a wall when they put up the second Severn Crossing. It seems to be an obstacle too far for most seabirds.

Can I also just remind people when they send records to me please also copy the County Recorder, Richard Baatsen at Baatsen@surfbirder.com for the official record. I know he would be very grateful. Thank you.

May 12    I have received from Simon Bell, the Sales & Marketing Manager for Liverpool University Press a pre-publication offer for the upcoming Birds of the Cotswolds: A New Breeding Atlas. You can get the special offer leaflet from me at the usual email addresses or call me and I will email you the offer flyer. The offer is a Special pre-publication offer! Order before 8 June 2009 and save 30% Full price £25.00, offer price £17.25

Additionally I have been informed of some problems at Nagshead with birders leaving footpaths and going through the undergrowth trying to get better views of Wood Warblers. This has caused vegetation damage and has probably caused one pair to desert a nest site. Also please refrain from getting too close to nest boxes to take photographs as there were problems with Pied Flycatchers deserting last year and they are already in decline. There is no need anyway with large lenses and modern technology. You will see a cautionary notice added to Nagshead sightings throughout the breeding season. Please take notice of this request. Thank You for your co-operation.

May 09    On Sunday Michael and I went to Molineux to see Wolves lift the Championship trophy, they even managed a win as well. Most of the day was a party with large amounts of lager imbibed. It was nice to see my team win something. Next season may be a struggle but I'm sure we can stay up. If only Gloucester Rugby hadn't lost the plot completely.

Today, together with Andy it was our pleasure to take Brent Stephenson of Wrybill Birding Tours in NZ, on a birding tour of the Severn Vale on what was conceivably the worst day of the spring so far. So sorry Brent, at least we managed to get Nightingale and Cetti's Warbler for you. It was a pleasure anyway.

May 02    I must have stood in something yesterday. After all my mates rushed for the Collared Flycatcher at Portland in the week, I was stuck at work and couldn't go because of month end and all that rubbish. I went down at 12:30pm yesterday and as I drove across Ferry Bridge the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler was Mega'd on the pager. Ticked off the flycatcher first, lovely bird, cracking views, then got around to the Avalanche Hump around 4pm and got the EBW too. Nice views and heard calling. Then I texted the boys and received a load of jammy git calls and texts. I was going for the Crested Lark at Dungeness today with them but the Bonelli's changed their plans, so my lovely wife suggested I drove straight to Kent. I did and she rang ahead and booked me a B&B two minutes from the lark. After a Full Monty this morning I joined The Charge of the Lark Brigade at 7:30am and saw it in flight and on the deck before the haze set in. So two lifers and a British tick in less than 24 hours. I don't think that's happened since 1996. I'm a very happy bunny. I even saw the now grown-up Hooded Merganser yesterday, probably less tickable now than when I first saw it last summer. Just thought I'd share. B&B details on request.

Apr 26    I am pleased to put Phil Pope's Thailand February 2009 Trip Report on-line today, click here, or go to the Trip Reports page for these and others.

PS:

Apr 19    What a great weekend (so long as no one mentions Glaws, but everyone saw that coming). Wolves are finally back in the Premiership and Michael and I were rocking at full time on Saturday. I also managed a bit of birding but with low tides, lower temperatures and a N wind it was hard work. A Common Tern on the Sailing Lake was my 400th World species this year. It has been an incredible year for me, but it's going to be a long slog now until my next holiday on Scilly in the autumn.

I'm more than a little surprised and embarrassed by the plaudits and thanks which have suddenly appeared on the Forum. Do I owe you people money? but thanks very much anyway, it's always nice to be appreciated.

Apr 14    It's a long time since I've written anything so here goes. We had an excellent trip to Texas, taking my son and his girlfriend to Wrestlemania XXV for his 21st Birthday (those in the dark can click on the link). It was quite an experience to be in a crowd of over 72000 people in a huge indoor arena for this show. Very razzamatazz! and we even had Kid Rock performing a few songs. By the Monday we were all wrestled out and I insisted on some birding. We drove down to Galveston and then across on the free ferry to Bolivar Flats. As we drove on towards Gilchrist we witnessed at first hand the very sobering devastation of Hurricane Ike. There were no trees left, houses were matchwood and businesses and bars were just represented by the remaining hard standings and a few bent-over signs. Awful. It was sunny but very cold on this day but eventually we got to Boy Scout Woods at the famed High Island and I enjoyed an hour or so's birding with Bridgette. There were many great birds here but my favourites were summer-plumaged scarlet Summer Tanagers, an electric-blue Indigo Bunting, Hooded Warbler and Blue-headed Vireo. It was a shame we were on such limited time. The flights with Continental were very good and was my favourite type ie one with the same amount of landings as take-offs. The only drawback was being hit by another car within an hour of landing in Houston, it was like Grand Theft Auto, he didn't even stop.

Returning home I've dashed about all Easter weekend catching up with migrants and birds I'd missed. I even went to Cleeve hill twice! I've added House Martin, Whimbrel, Willow Warbler, Garganey, Ring Ouzel, Avocet, Egyptian Goose, Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, Cuckoo, Tawny Owl, Little Gull and Little Tern, not a bad haul. On Saturday I went to Hampshire with Andy and Jake and we had excellent views of the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW within minutes of arriving and we were home by lunchtime. It was a lifer for us all.

As to the sport, Glaws continue to be pretty poor and have a final on Saturday against Cardiff which they will do well to win. As to my beloved Wolves, Michael and I thought we were in trouble when they lost to Birmingham whilst we were away, but after a six point Easter they are now one win from the Premiership. Just wish I could get some tickets, any offers?

Mar 29    James Lees has a new website at JS Lees Wildlife Images, please have a look and I hope you enjoy. Permanent links on the links page.

Mar 16    Blueyonder mail seems to be working now thank you. A good weekend with my personal highlight finding a flock of 61 Brent Geese at Fretherne. I had seen very little, it was freezing and I was ready to jack it in when I spotted a black raft out on the incoming tide. I though initially they would be Scoters, but when I got the scope on them they were Brents. This was the second largest flock for the County. It was also nice to see Sand Martins and Chiffchaffs, an indication that Spring is on the way. The most surprising thing is the growing group of Hawfinches in Quedgeley, which started as one seen by Paul Masters at the back of his garden, and by this weekend has grown to at least six birds.

On the sport front England amazed me with their opening half of rugby destroying the French (always a pleasure), a close win for Glaws and Wolves back to winning ways although I'm not mentioning the P word just yet.

Mar 13    Happy 21st Birthday Michael. For the last 24 hours the blueyonder mail address hasn't been working properly so please also copy Mike@surfbirder.com thank you.

Mar 08    I am pleased to put our World Tour including San Francisco, New Zealand and Hong Kong January 2009 Trip Report on-line today, click here, or go to the Trip Reports page for these and others. There are now 114 worldwide trip reports with a wealth of information and excellent photos available here.

Feb 24    I haven't written much for a while because after three weeks away I came back to a desk piled like a snowdrift at work and an Inbox with 1200 messages at home. Slowly I'm getting to grips with both. However the trip report is taking much longer than I hoped. Those of you that are already on Facebook can find about a 100 of our 2600 photos there, if you're not you're welcome to find me. On a birding front I've quietly caught up with most of the species I missed whilst I was away except Waxwings. The best being the drake American Wigeon, Glaucous and Iceland Gull and the easiest Great Grey Shrike I have ever seen in the County. I was quite pleased you managed to keep in touch with the Forum, it's a shame it's only used when I'm away. Wolves and Gloucester continue to stutter but so does everyone else thankfully. Ah well, back to the trip report.

Feb 15    Here are a few new websites, which I haven't got around to mentioning sooner. Sorry guys. Permanent links on the links page.

Gary Thoburn's Bird Pix    Gary Thoburn's bird pix website. Excellent photo collection, many of you will know Gary from Scilly. 

Martin Dyer Photography    Martin Dyer's photographic site and also recommended Blog http://wildlifeacrossthewater.blogspot.com/.  

Swindon Birds    Steve Davies's Swindon Birds site. All the info for Swindon and the surrounding area. 

Feb 07    It was nice to see a few hardy souls at the pub last night. Our World Tour was truly amazing with 265 species seen on four continents. We travelled 27408 miles by air and road and took 11 flights. We travelled by plane, helicopter, catamaran, fishing boat, Zodiac, train, underground, tram, cable car, coach and car and many miles on foot - and we're still friends. There were many highlights including our first Penguins, encounters with Kiwis in the rain forest, amazingly close Albatrosses, the magic of Mai Po marshes and nailing my two old Nemeses - Glaucous-winged Gull and Red-breasted Nuthatch in California. I am preparing a trip report but it will take a little while. In the meantime here's a couple of pics to give you a flavour - Wandering Albatross and Salvin's Albatross (pic by Bridgette).

Also I have posted the answers to the two Christmas Quizzes tonight.

Feb 02    I'm back! I see you self-managed with the Forum, I think I'll leave you to it. I had a brilliant trip with over 140 lifers, but more of that soon.

Jan 28    Happy Birthday Donna. 

Jan 08    The website won't be updated again until February 1st as I will be away. I'm not sure anyone left at home here would be able to look after the site in the manner to which you've all grown accustomed. Therefore visit the Forum where the D-I-Y Gloster Birder is open for business. I haven't had time to post the answers to the Quiz and the competition so you will have to scratch your heads for another three weeks.

Jan 04    I went to Cornwall yesterday because we had some family business down there, so I left early and took in the Snowy Owl at Sperris Quoit, Trendrine Hill near Zennor. I particularly wanted to see this one in better weather because although I saw the one in Lincs in 1995 the weather was atrocious that day with snow, gales and horizontal rain. My old Mirador Merlin scope filled up with water (and was never the same again) so the views weren't the best. This one sat nicely showing well in good conditions, although it was bitterly cold and the owl was a little distant.

I could have gone for the Glaucous-winged Gull in Cleveland but I couldn't face it after double-dipping in Mordor, and not even knowing one was in my own County until it was gone. Never mind well done to all those connected. You should be able to tick it in 7-10 years if accepted. I'll finally get the gull next weekend in San Francisco with a little luck.

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

I started the year on a County wide tour and amassed a list of 57 species during the day. Bonuses included a Slavonian Grebe, two Short-eared Owls and three Smew. I didn't see the grebe or Smew in 2008.

2008 was a memorable year and highlights by month in the County were:

January    The 2007 Cattle Egret lingered into 2008, a wintering Temminck's Stint was at WWT, a Great Grey Shrike entertained all-comers in the Forest and a Red-throated Diver was a welcome patch tick for one lucky birder at Berkeley.

February    A wing-tagged Great Bustard was popular at Calmsden, the now annual Cotswold Short-eared Owl-Fest took place at Great Barrington and were joined by a Hen Harrier.

March    The first migrants arrived and a Green winged Teal was in the 100-Acre. Another Great Grey Shrike was at Snowshill.

April    Ring Ouzels arrived, an escaped Bald Eagle caused a stir and Nick Goatman discovered a singing male Pallas's Warbler at Frampton, a County first. The Cattle Egret found a friend.

May    A Guillemot at Saul was very popular, Dave Paynter found an elusive adult summer Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the 100-Acre, a Purple Heron was found at Lydney Marsh by John Phillips and a Ring-billed Gull was found on the Dumbles by Martin McGill.

June    A first-summer male Red-footed Falcon was found at Kempsford by Gareth Harris and John Overfield found a White Stork on the Dumbles.

July    Return passage of the waders started and Nightjars showed well in the Forest (when it wasn't raining).     

August    A Red-necked Phalarope discovered at Saul by Alan Baxter and friends was popular if always distant. An adult Stilt Sandpiper turned up by Les Brown and Lawrence Skipp at Coombe Hill Meadows attracted national interest, another County first. An unringed European Eagle Owl made its first appearance at the Barn Owl Centre. A Kentish Plover found on the Dumbles by James Lees was less obliging for the masses.

September   A Dotterel found on the Dumbles by Martin McGill was the second for WWT, the first being in 1975. Martin also found the year's only Spotted Crake whilst mowing and a Black-necked Grebe. A popular radio-tagged Osprey was at Broadwater. A juvenile Long-tailed Skua became bird of the year for just five lucky people, me included.

October    James and Martin had a flyover Richard's Pipit at WWT. A garden Yellow-browed Warbler at Ruscombe was a nice reward for Gordon Kirk after his sterling Atlas efforts. A moribund Eider found by James would have been very popular in good health being a very difficult County bird.

November    A Lapland Bunting was found by Martin at WWT but was generally difficult to see. John and Viv Phillips discovered a popular Lesser Scaup at Lydney which eventually moved to Frampton.

December    A popular Bittern was at Frampton, stunning Waxwings were in Littledean and Longlevens and the last good bird of the year was a Slavonian Grebe at Dudgrove found by Ian Ralphs, the first for over a decade.

On a personal note I've had a busy year birding in Florida, Dorset and Scilly with the occasional twitch for the odd rarity.  I want to thank everyone who has been brilliant company on these various trips particularly Paul, Andy, Tony, Richard and Colin who have been my regular companions but most of all I want to thank Bridgette yet again.

I would like to congratulate Paul Masters on winning the Birding League with 208 species, although a special mention must go to Martin who had 222 species but did not enter due to the unfair advantages of his job.