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Sightings 2009

 

January to June

 

Tue 30th June 2009

Witcombe Reservoir    Two Common Sandpipers today. (Gordon Avery).

Gloucester    The Peregrines on Gloucester Royal Hospital have successfully reared two young to fledging this year and are now flying well and very vocal. (John Wells). Pic below from GRH's webcam taken today.

Mon 29th June 2009

Saul Warth    Five Little Egrets, a Hobby, a Water Rail calling, a male Ruff, just one Black-tailed Godwit, ten Redshanks and two Green Sandpipers. Nearby at Arlingham a Buzzard carrying a Moorhen chick. (Andy Jayne).

Windrush Airfield    A flock of 80+ Linnets, 10+ Corn Buntings, 10+ singing Skylarks, a Yellow Wagtail, an adult Pied Wagtail feeding a juvenile and a distant Peregrine. Also eight Brown Hares, including two leverets. (Graham Watson). Pics by Graham.

Corn Bunting

Brown Hare

Sun 28th June 2009

Forest of Dean    Two Nightjars churring this evening at Boy's Grave near Speech House. Also a Spotted Flycatcher and a Tree Pipit. (Allan Chard). Pic by Allan.

Tree Pipit

Windrush Airfield     A female Hen Harrier quartering over the only rape field that is still in flower this morning and also three Yellow Wagtails. (Richard Tyler). Pic by Richard.

Yellow Wagtail

Forest of Dean    A Hobby, a Goshawk, a Sparrowhawk and two Ravens over May Hill this afternoon. (Martin Drew).

Little Barrington    A pair of Little Owls with one fledged young in a barn near Hurst Barn Farm. (Andy Lewis).

Cheltenham    At 11:20am a Red Kite did a low slow fly-over Asquith Road Allotments (Naunton Park), then headed towards Leckhampton. (Nic Brown).

 

Sat 27th June 2009

Painswick Beacon    Early evening two singing Tree Pipits and a single Crossbill over. (Francis Steuck).

Forest of Dean    Two Nightjars churring this evening from 10pm at Boy's Grave near Speech House. Also at Nagshead mid evening, a Tawny Owl roosting. (Mark Moore).

Dursley    At Breakheart quarry today 54 Ringlets, 17 Meadow Browns, 18 Marbled Whites, three Large Skippers, two Painted Ladies, a Comma and a Small Tortoiseshell. (Phil Pope).

Cheltenham    At 1am a Badger ran from Naunton Crescent into Naunton Lane. (Kim & Steve Brown).

 

Fri 26th June 2009

Frampton    A male Siskin on garden niger feeders in Vicarage Lane today. (Rose Hewlett).

 

Thu 25th June 2009

WWT Slimbridge    A Quail singing in the Top New Piece this morning only. Kingfishers feeding young from Kingfisher hide, also a Cuckoo and a Whitethroat. An Otter seen late morning on three days last week. (Martin McGill, WWT). 

Saul Warth    At 10am a Spotted Redshank in summer plumage, 30 Redshanks, 50+ Lapwings and 23 Black-tailed Godwits. (Dave Evans).

 

Wed 24th June 2009

Forest of Dean    A Red Kite circling just north of the Glasshouse pub at May Hill 3:45pm today. (Martin Drew).

Coombe Hill Meadows    Two Shelducks, six Teal, a Little Egret, 12 Grey Herons, a Hobby, a male Sparrowhawk, 22 Lapwings, a juvenile Black-headed Gull, a bubbling Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, two Pied Wagtails and a male Cuckoo. (Andy Jayne/Howard Taylor).

 

Tue 23rd June 2009

Whaddon    At 9:45am two Red Kites seen over Whaddon heading N over Robinswood Hill. (Francis Steuck).

Cotswold Water Park (W)    In the Pit 84,85 & 79 area a Little Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, a Cetti's Warbler and two Barn Owls at 9:45pm. (David Owen).

Frampton    In the Green Lane and WWT 100-Acre area this evening four Common Terns and a Barn Owl. (Mark Hobson).

Cheltenham    At Naunton Park, many Scarlet Tiger moths in the back gardens, also a Comma and a Gatekeeper. (Steve Brown). Pic by Steve.

Scarlet Tiger

Mon 22nd June 2009

Dowdeswell Reservoir    Five Grey Herons, two Tufted Ducks, two Reed Warblers and a Fallow Deer by the waters edge this evening. (Howard Taylor).

Cleeve Hill    A 4km walk in the Warden Wood/Wontley Farm/Belas Knap/West Wood area resulted in a minimum of 21 singing Tree Pipits and a Grasshopper Warbler. (Dave Pearce).

Gloucester    Three Peregrines circling and calling above the Cathedral at 7:45pm. (Martin Drew).

Forest of Dean    Two Jays at the Speech House Arboretum car park, a Wren gathering insects at Nagshead and a female Mandarin with two chicks on the pond. Also nearby, a Tawny Owl being relentlessly mobbed. (Allan Chard). Pics by Allan.

Jays

Wren

Mandarin

Sun 21st June 2009

Saul Warth    This evening 36 Redshanks, a summer-plumaged male Ruff, a Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, four Dunlins and 22 Lapwings. (Nick Goatman).

Frampton    Four Yellow Wagtails at the Sailing Lake this evening. (Nick Goatman).

Aldsworth    In the Windrush Airfield area up to 15 singing Corn Buntings, a couple pairs of Yellow Wagtails and a Red Kite today. (Duncan Dine).

Forest of Dean    At Speech House Walk (SO631120) a Wood Warbler today and at Blackpool Bridge (SO652087) two Marsh Tits, a Kingfisher and two Grey Wagtails. Three Fallow Deer (a doe and two half grown fawns) at the southern end of Spruce Ride. (Steve Brown).

Southam    At Southam NE of Cheltenham a Little Owl this morning sat on a wooden fence of the restored railway line. (Howard Taylor).

WWT Slimbridge    Two Scarlet Tiger moths on the footpath between the restaurant and the entrance pond at 3:40pm. (Ray Sherman). Pic by Ray.

Scarlet Tigers

Sat 20th June 2009

Forest of Dean    At Saintlow Inclosure two Firecrests, a Wood Warbler, a Garden Warbler and a Wood White butterfly. (John Overfield/Jake King).

Hawling    No sign of any Quail this evening in the set-aside field S of the minor cross roads at SP059220 or in the surrounding area but two Corn Buntings and a Barn Owl late evening. Please do not enter any of the fields or disturb any breeding birds present. (MK/Mark Hobson/Zoe Leary).

Cheltenham    A Grey Wagtail by the Chelt near the Bayshill pub.  A small movement of Scarlet Tigers SE through Naunton Park early evening. (Steve Brown).

 

Fri 19th June 2009

Forest of Dean    Two male Nightjars churring this evening from 9:45pm at Boy's Grave near Speech House. (MK).

Hawling    At the pheasant pens, two Quail heard calling all day until 9pm at least in the set-aside field S of the minor cross roads at SP059220. Also 20+ Linnets, 30+ Goldfinches, a Swift over, a Kestrel, two pairs of Pied Wagtails feeding young and a Barn Owl late evening. Please do not enter any of the fields or disturb any breeding birds present. (Rupert Dennis/Mark Hobson/Paul Masters).

Slad    Two Red-legged Partridges on the side of Down Hill, also Pyramidal and Bee Orchids. (Howard Taylor).

 

Thu 18th June 2009

Hawling    Two Quail calling at midday at the minor cross roads at SP059220. Several Corn Buntings nearby. Please do not enter any of the fields or disturb any breeding birds present. (Dave Pearce).

Ebley    A Dipper on the River Frome behind Ebley Mill this afternoon at 4:40pm today. (Ray Sherman).

Cleeve Hill    Late morning today at West Down nine Skylarks, six Swifts, five Linnets, five Yellowhammers, six Whitethroats, a Lapwing and a Tree Pipit near Wontley Farm. (Howard Taylor).

 

Wed 17th June 2009

Cleeve Hill    At the Bill Smyllie Butterfly Reserve a female Redstart and 2-3 juveniles. Below the pylons four Adders seen basking in the sun. (Greg, Tom & Jack Mabbett). Pic below.

Adder

Tue 16th June 2009

Dursley    A juvenile Dipper inside the Lister Petter factory at 6am. It was caught and released. (Shane Long).

Netheridge Farm     A Red Kite flew low over the Barn Owl Centre this afternoon at 1:15pm. It stayed around circling at different height levels for about 20 minutes before drifting off towards Hempsted Tip with crows mobbing it. (Vince Jones). Pic by Vince.

Red Kite

Mon 15th June 2009

Cleeve Hill    In Warden's Wood four Whitethroats, three Yellowhammers, six Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff. From the track to Wontley Farm two Buzzards, a Kestrel, two Skylarks, three Linnets and eight Lapwings over. Many Greater Butterfly Orchids nearby. (Howard Taylor).

Forest of Dean    A Turtle Dove singing by May Hill village hall this morning. (Gillian Guest).

Cheltenham    Two male Peregrines calling on Eagle Tower this morning, one with a pigeon kill. (Chris Furley).

Guiting Power    At Tinkers Quarry, near Guiting Power a Red Kite soaring through the valley towards the Cotswold Farm Park, two Green Woodpeckers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Skylarks, two Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, at least nine Yellowhammers and five Brown Hares. At Barton Lake at 5am this morning eight Tufted Ducks (4m, 4f), two Little Grebes, two Coots feeding two young, a Grey Heron and two Grey Wagtails. In the trees surrounding the lake three male Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and two Kestrels. Also three Muntjacs and a Fox. (Claire Forbes).

 

Sun 14th June 2009

Charlton Kings    Two singing Tree Pipits on Charlton Kings Common and another on Ravensgate Hill. Many Small Heath Butterflies on both hills. (Steve Brown).

Coombe Hill Meadows    A Lesser Whitethroat in the car park area, also a Bullfinch there, a Chiffchaff, three Willow Warblers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and two Green Woodpeckers, a Jay, two Curlews displaying, four Sedge Warblers and two Reed Buntings. Also several Broad-bodied Chasers, a Four-spotted Chaser and a few Painted Ladies. (Steve Davies).

Bullfinch

Tirley    A female Sparrowhawk being mobbed by three House Martins and a Swallow and two Buzzards over. (Mark Grieve).

Ashleworth Ham    From Stank Lane three Reed Buntings, two Blackcaps, five Whitethroats, three Willow Warblers, five Buzzards, a Chiffchaff, a Redstart, three Sedge Warblers and 50+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls and two Herring Gulls soaring overhead. (Mark Grieve).

Elkstone    A Spotted Flycatcher and a pair of Bullfinches today. (Graham Watson). Cheltenham    A Peregrine in full stoop near the Eagle Star building today. (Graham Watson).

Tewkesbury    A Turtle Dove at the Mythe N.R. this evening. (Gerry Shilham).

Cotswold Water Park (E)    On Pit 126 three Little Terns (also same birds on Pit 114), 12 pairs of Common Terns, two Little Ringed Plovers, 14 Lapwings, an Oystercatcher, 20 Great Crested Grebes and two Little Grebes and 200+ Sand Martins. (Mick & Jo Jones).

Cotswold Water Park (W)    This afternoon a Goshawk over Neigh Bridge car park and then over Pit 57. Seven Hobby sightings in total. Good numbers of singing Garden Warblers and a singing Cetti's Warbler, another at the Gateway Centre. Several Beautiful Demoiselles around the Thames. Two Bee Orchids along the county Boundary. (Gavin Black/Steve Brown).

Painswick    A Spotted Flycatcher at the golf course this morning SO81Q. (Mark Hobson).

Forest of Dean    A Firecrest singing high in firs mid-morning just off of Speech House walk. Also a juvenile Siskin, a juvenile Tawny Owl, a Tree Pipit, five Mandarins on Speech House Lake and a Hobby, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard circling together. (MK).

Cheltenham    A Scarlet Tiger Moth in front of Cheltenham College. (Steve Brown).

 

Sat 13th June 2009

Eastington    A female Peregrine feeding on a pigeon on a pylon at Millend was stooped at by male Kestrel, then had her tail pulled a Carrion Crow; she re-located to another pylon before flying off W. (Jake King).

Forest of Dean    At Boy's Grave three Nightjars at 10:10pm and three Woodcocks over.  (Andy Chapman). Four Firecrests in the Speech House Walk to Yewtreebrake area this morning, also a Tree Pipit, a pair of Garden Warblers, a pair of Chiffchaffs with two juveniles, a Golden-ringed Dragonfly, a Black-tailed Skimmer and several Large Red Damselflies. A Spotted Flycatcher at Nagshead still. (Paul Masters). Pics by Paul.

Firecrest

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Crackstone near Minchinhampton    At 10am a Red Kite over with two Buzzards. Also Corn Bunting singing here. (Graham Bullivant). Pics by Graham.

Red Kite

Corn Bunting

Fri 12th June 2009

Forest of Dean    Male and female Nightjar at Boy's Grave this evening. Also four passes by roding Woodcock and a white Fallow Deer.  (Jake King). A Spotted Flycatcher in the garden today at May Hill, the first for two years. (Rob Guest).

 

Thu 11th June 2009

Gloucester    At Gloucestershire Airport at Staverton a pair of Buzzards, on both the north and south side of the airfield, a Kestrel, a Stock Dove calling, five House Martins, three Swifts, two Whitethroats, two Blackcaps and a Green Woodpecker heard. (Howard Taylor).

Coombe Hill Meadows    Two Avocets and three Green Sandpipers today. (Graham Smith).

 

Wed 10th June 2009

Fairford    At 9:20am a Red Kite circled to gain height and then drifted E over Horcott. (Richard Morgan).

 

Tue 9th June 2009

Saul Warth    Early morning two Knots and 40+ Black-tailed Godwits. (Gordon Hodgson).

Cotswold Water Park    At Pit 6 a pair of Common Terns and a Jay by the feeders. At Keynes Park at Pit 34, five Red Crested Pochards (4m 1f), at Pit 32 a pair of Common Terns and at Pit 31 four Red Crested Pochards (2m, 2f). (Alan Richards).

Gloucester    This morning at Alney Island, a female Cuckoo called near Richards Wood and a Little Egret at Over Pools. (Steve Brown).

Woodmancote    Three Siskins (2f & 1 juv) and at least four Bullfinches coming to feeders in the garden. (John Widgery).

 

Mon 8th June 2009

Coombe Hill Meadows    A Greenshank this evening. (Andy Jayne). This morning between the canal wharf and the new reserve bridge two Lesser Whitethroats, two male Bullfinches, eight Skylarks, seven Reed Warblers, five Reed Buntings, a Blackcap with young and two Sedge Warblers. From the Grundon Hide four Shelducks and a Brown Hare. (Howard Taylor). Two Green Sandpipers today. (John Wiltshire).

Cheltenham    An apparently independent juvenile Grey Wagtail in Rodney Road Car Park today. (Steve Brown).

Birdlip    This evening a Tree Pipit singing at Barrow Wake. (Steve Brown).

WWT Slimbridge    The adult Curlew Sandpiper still roosting on the Dumbles at 10am and then close to Mid Point at 4pm. Also three Turnstones, five Grey Plovers and a Knot. (James Lees, WWT).

 

Sun 7th June 2009

Bourton-on-the-Hill    At 3:30pm a Red Kite over Bourton Downs today. (Stephen Martin).   

WWT Slimbridge    An adult female Curlew Sandpiper, an adult Little Stint, four Grey Plovers and 17 Sanderlings over the high tide today. (James Lees, WWT).

Hawling area    This morning at Sevenhampton Church, a singing Stock Dove. At the Hawling Triangle two singing Corn Buntings and a Brown Hare SP074220. Also a Tree Pipit singing south of Oxleaze SP053219. (Steve Brown).

Woodford    In fields due W of Woodford and Little Avon two singing Lesser Whitethroats, a pair of Bullfinches, a singing Reed Bunting, a Green Woodpecker, a Little Egret and a Kingfisher. (Derek Edmondson).

 

Sat 6th June 2009

Cotswold Water Park (W)    At Pits 79/84/85 today three drake Teal, two drake Shovelers, three drake Pochards, a pair of Red Crested Pochards, a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels, a Hobby, a Little Ringed Plover, a Ringed Plover, a pair of Redshanks, a pair of Common Terns and a Cetti's Warbler. (Andy Jayne).

Ashleworth Ham    Early morning a Little Egret, a pair of Wigeon, a female Pintail, four Tufted Ducks (3m, 1f), a drake Teal and a pair of Cuckoos. (MK).

Woodmancote    A female Siskin with Goldfinches on sunflower heart feeders in the garden. (John Widgery).

 

Fri 5th June 2009

Saul Warth    In the evening a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and 75 Black-tailed Godwits. At 12:45pm a Red Kite high over Fretherne bridge heading E. (Gordon Hodgson).

Woodford    In fields due W of Woodford and Little Avon an adult Little Owl at a nest site feeding a downy chick. (Derek Edmondson).

Coombe Hill Meadows    A Quail calling late afternoon in a field E of the Snipe Pool, but no sign of any shrike sp. (Terry Fenton/Lawrence Skipp). A report of a possible Red-backed or Woodchat Shrike at 6:30am at the Wainlode Hill end of the reserve beyond Grundon hide last seen flying towards Wainlode. (Tim Cash per Gordon Avery).

Ashleworth Ham    Belated news that the singing male COMMON ROSEFINCH was seen on Wednesday morning (3rd) at 10:30am. (per AJ).

Forest of Dean    At Oakhill Wood near Hewelsfield this morning a singing Wood Warbler and a Redstart and a Kestrel at Madgetts Farm nearby. (Ivan Proctor).

Gloucester    This morning at Alney Island, a male Cuckoo calling and in flight at Over Pools. Also around the reserve singing Reed Buntings, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers and a healthy population of Song Thrushes. (Steve Brown). At 2:30pm at Over Ponds/Port Ham, a Cuckoo calling and a female seen. Also a Little Grebe with a well developed chick on Port Ham pond. (Ian Elphick).

Moreton-in-Marsh    A calling Cuckoo at 4:30am. (per Felicity Cobb).

 

Thu 4th June 2009

Coombe Hill Meadows    An Osprey flying over very high. (Lawrence Skipp).

Woodford    In fields due W of Woodford and Little Avon two adult and two juvenile Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. (Derek Edmondson).

Forest of Dean    Four singing male Firecrests located in the Speech House Walk and Yewtreebrake area this afternoon. (Andy Jayne).

Saul Warth    This morning at 9am two Avocets still, a Spotted Redshank in near summer plumage, 43 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Lapwing, three Redshanks, a Little Egret and four Shovelers. (Dave Evans).

Chipping Campden    A Red Kite over the Food Research Station today at 4:45pm (a site first in 20 years). (Tim Hutton).

Charlton Kings    A Lesser Whitethroat on the slope above Highland Road. (Steve Brown).

Winchcombe    At Wadfield Grove a Raven, a Yellowhammer, a Chiffchaff, a pair of Whitethroats feeding young, four Buzzards riding the thermals and being harassed by three Carrion Crows and a Buzzard mid-morning with a jess on one leg. (Pete Grimmitt). Pic by Pete.

Whitethroat

Upton St Leonard's    A Buzzard being mobbed by a Carrion Crow and a Sparrowhawk over Upton St Leonard's Primary School at lunchtime today. (Cottia Howard). 

Forest of Dean    At Woorgreens Lake a family of Greylags and two pairs of Canada Geese with young. At Speech House Lake six pairs of Greylags of which five have young (4,3,2,2,1). At Speech House Inclosure a female Redstart feeding two young and at Farmers Green (Russell's Inclosure) a male Redstart along the main path. (Bob Broughton). Pics by Bob.

Redstart

Greylags

 

Wed 3rd June 2009

Woodford    In fields due W of Woodford and Little Avon  at least five Mandarin ducklings jumping from a tree hole.  (Derek Edmondson).

Ashleworth Ham    Three Whimbrels flew over the reserve towards Hasfield Ham at 8:30pm. (Gordon Avery/Andy Jayne). No sign of the singing male COMMON ROSEFINCH in willows along the main ditch opposite the road between the hide and Stank Lane all day. View only from the main road between the hide and Stank Lane. THERE IS STRICTLY NO ACCESS TO THIS SENSITIVE SITE. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER ANY OF THE FIELDS.

Coombe Hill Meadows    This morning between 8am-9:30pm two Ringed Plovers, a Oystercatcher, a Curlew, two Shelducks, four Lapwings, a Cuckoo heard, a Lesser Whitethroat heard, three Whitethroats, two Sedge Warblers and two Reed Buntings. (Derek Hale).

Dowdeswell Reservoir    Between 4:30pm-7pm two male Tufted Ducks, two Little Grebes, two Reed Warblers and a Swallow taking surface water. In the woodland four Song Thrushes, six Goldcrests, a Green Woodpecker heard, a male Bullfinch and two Roe Deer. (Howard Taylor).

 

Tue 2nd June 2009

Ashleworth Ham    The singing male COMMON ROSEFINCH again this evening in willows along the main ditch opposite the road between the hide and Stank Lane. Only seen between c8:15-8:45pm when it went to roost. (Lawrence Skipp/Andy Jayne). It was also reported to have been present yesterday in Stank Lane.

Saul Warth    Two Avocets from 7:30am until 1pm at least. A Wood Sandpiper this evening at 8:30pm. (Nick Goatman).

Little Barrington    A Red Kite heading north over the A40 this morning at 10:25am. (Howard Taylor).

Ruscombe    Two Red Kites high over Ruscombe at 4pm today, moving W. A garden first. (Gordon Kirk).

Coombe Hill Meadows    A Little Ringed Plover today. (John Wiltshire).

Gloucester    Between 3pm-3:30pm today a Peregrine soaring above Gloucester Train Station and the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. (Ray Sherman).

 

Mon 1st June 2009

Stanway Ash, near Snowshill    A pair of Garden Warblers feeding four young and a Cuckoo heard. (Pete Grimmitt).

Ashleworth Ham    No sign of the singing male COMMON ROSEFINCH all day, but a Red Kite drifted down river at 4:25 pm headed in the direction of Cheltenham. Also male and female Wigeon, a Blackcap, three Buzzards, three Reed Buntings, a female Pintail, a Swift, a Swallow, two Whitethroats and a Cuckoo heard. (Mark Grieve).

Forest of Dean    At Crabtree Hill this morning two Wood Warblers, three Tree Pipits, four Siskins and 1-2 Willow Tits heard. Also a Fox. At Speech House paddocks two Redstarts (fem & juv). At Oakenhill (above Parkend) a Turtle Dove. At Cannop Stoneworks an adult Dipper, three Grey Wagtails (ad & 2juvs) and five Siskins on the feeders. Also a Golden-ringed Dragonfly. In the evening at Linear Park, Cinderford five Great Crested Grebes (2ad,3juv), a male Tufted Duck, three Tree Pipits and a Hobby at 9:05pm. At Boy's Grave two Nightjars heard churring at 9:40pm and a Woodcock over. (Derek Hale). Pics by Derek.

Great Crested Grebes

Wood Warbler

Fox

Redstart juvenile

Turtle Dove

Siskins

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Two Red Kites high above Lydbrook at 3:20pm today. Also two singing Wood Warblers in the forest near Edge End at 10am. (Gavin Black). Pic by Gavin.

Red Kite

WWT Slimbridge    An Egyptian Goose and a Common Tern on South Lake. From Zeiss Hide, two Little Egrets and a late Wigeon. (Mark Moore).

Frampton    At the top of the Sailing Lake, a Nightingale in full song between 1:30pm and 2pm. (Mark Moore).

Symonds Yat    A Hobby over at 6:10pm. (Gavin Black).

Gloucester    This morning at Middle Rea, a Lesser Whitethroat near Riversmead Farm and another on Rea Lane. A Stock Dove calling at the top of Wotton Pitch. Late afternoon at Castlemeads two singing Reed Buntings and a Cuckoo. Near Richard's Wood three Great Spotted Woodpeckers fledged from a nest hole and several Common Blue butterflies around Alney Island. (Steve Brown).

 

Sun 31st May 2009

Ashleworth Ham    A singing male COMMON ROSEFINCH this morning, seen by three observers at 11:30am only, and no sign since. The bird was singing from willows at the N end of the reserve opposite Colways Farm. (Mike Smart).

Temple Guiting    A report of a Wryneck in Temple Guiting churchyard this morning. (Jim Milton).

Hawling    A Quail heard calling all day at the pheasant pens, also 40+ Linnnets and two Skylarks. (Rupert Dennis).

Coombe Hill Meadows    Four Reed Buntings, two Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler and seven Skylarks. From the Long Pool Hide 13 Lapwings and 20 Jackdaws nearby, a Brown Hare and a dog Fox. At the Grundon Hide another Reed Bunting, three Curlews and the Spoonbill flew in at 9pm. A male Cuckoo calling throughout the evening. (Howard Taylor).

Brockhampton    A garden Spotted Flycatcher, the first for two years. (Phil Davis).

Hucclecote    A Peregrine seen hunting this evening. It spent five minutes cruising at high altitude before launching into a dive in the SW sky never to be seen again. (Chris Berry).

Quedgeley    A Red Kite over Green Farm this morning at 11am heading S. (Jonathan Connor).

Aylworth    A moulting Red Kite drifting NE at 5:10 pm over Aylworth Manor (SP12B). Also a Fox (vixen) and cub near by. (Tim Hutton).

WWT Slimbridge    Two Red Kites together over early afternoon. (Martin McGill, WWT). 

Coombe Hill Meadows    From the Grundon hide a Little Egret, a Spoonbill on the Long Pool, a Shelduck, a Curlew, a Little Ringed Plover, a Lapwing, a Pied Wagtail, two Swallows and three Black-headed Gulls. Along the canal seven Willow Warblers, 11 Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, three Reed Buntings, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Bullfinches, two Cuckoos, a Lesser Whitethroat, five Sedge Warblers, a Grey Heron, at least 15 Long-tailed Tits and two Blackcaps. (Mark Grieve).

Charlton Kings    A Lesser Whitethroat singing in the scrub above Highlands Road. A Wall Brown butterfly on Charlton Kings Common. Also a Stock Dove at Leckhampton Court. (Steve Brown).

Gloucester    From Telford's Bridge a pair of Cuckoos (red phase female) in courtship flight around Over Ponds and a pair of Little Grebes on Port Ham pond. (Ian Elphick).

 

Sat 30th May 2009

Naunton    A Quail calling this morning at Summerhill. (Jim Milton).
Hawling    A Quail heard calling briefly at 11am near the junction N of the B4068. (Chris Thomas). 

Berkeley Heath    A Red Kite over Berkeley Heath, seen from Cattle Country at 2pm, quite high, drifting due N. (Gordon Kirk).

Symonds Yat    A Hawfinch overhead this morning as well as three Linnets; a Spotted Flycatcher and two Marsh Tits at the car park. Painted Ladies were passing at a rate of 2-3 per minute for most of the day, also a Club-tailed Dragonfly and a Red-necked Footman were seen flying over the viewpoint. (Luke Phillips).

Forest of Dean    Two Nightjars churring this evening at Boy's Grave. Also three Woodcocks. (Mark Hobson). This afternoon at the Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley a pair of Grey Wagtails and a pair of Pied Wagtails catching insects over the mill pond and a Whitethroat by the car park. At Nagshead two pairs of Pied Flycatchers, a pair of Nuthatches feeding young at a nest hole, a Blackcap, three Treecreepers and many nestboxes occupied by Blue Tits and Great Tits. (Pete Grimmitt).

Saul Warth    An Egyptian Goose and a Red Crested Pochard today. (Nick Goatman).

Highnam Woods    A male Nightingale solidly singing for an hour at 1pm and then another singing male joined in nearby forcing a territorial dispute. Also plenty of Painted Ladies present along with dozens of singing Blackcaps and several Whitethroats. (Chris Thomas). Pic by Chris.

Nightingale

 

Fri 29th May 2009

Forest of Dean    This afternoon a Cuckoo on an overhead wire near the Cannop Ponds entrance.  At Nagshead two Spotted Flycatchers, a Redstart, two Treecreepers and a Wood Warbler.  A flyover Goshawk was reported. (Steve Brown).

 

Thu 28th May 2009

Hawling    A Quail heard calling again at 1:30pm and 4pm in the set-a-side field at the crossroads at  SP0622 near Hawling. Also a Curlew calling and a Corn Bunting just N of the B4068 junction and another W of the church. (Steve Brown).

WWT Slimbridge    Two Common Terns and an Egyptian Goose on South Lake today.  (Brent Stephenson). Two Whimbrels and three Dunlins at Mid Point this morning (Geoff Moyser).

Frampton    At the WWT 100-Acre this morning a Hobby, c20 Curlews in flight, six Redshanks, 10+ Lapwings and at least two chicks visible, a Grey Heron and four Brown Hares boxing. (Bill Church).

Bourton-on-the-Water    Two Hobbies over the South Pit, a Kingfisher and several Sedge Warblers and a Grass Snake swimming in the small pool nearby. (Andy Lewis).

Dowdeswell Reservoir    Now two Reed Warblers calling at the eastern end and a Reed Bunting, two Little Grebes, six Tufted Ducks, a female Mallard with seven largish ducklings, two Swallows and a Kestrel over and a Painted Lady butterfly with many seen elsewhere later. (Howard Taylor).

Longborough    A Cuckoo today. (Stephen Martin).

Condicote    Five male Corn Buntings today. (Stephen Martin).

Dursley    300 Painted Ladies counted in 50 mins from 5:10pm migrating over GM's back garden today. (Geoff Moyser).

Gloucester    At least ten Painted Ladies at Sudmeadow today. (Gordon Avery).

NOTE: there is a site for Painted Lady sightings here http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/sightings/1097/painted_lady_butterfly.html

 

Wed 27th May 2009

Hawling    A Quail heard calling in the set-a-side field at the crossroads at SP0622 near Hawling. (Sue Smith).

Saul Warth    A pair of Red Crested Pochards (also present yesterday 26th) and 16 Black-tailed Godwits at 10am. (Dave Evans).

Upton St Leonard's    A Green Woodpecker feeding at Upton St Leonard's Primary School this morning. (Cottia Howard). 

Tirley    A Cuckoo calling at 5am. (Mark Grieve).

Gloucester    A Cuckoo calling at 3:30pm at Over Ponds, Alney Island also on Oxleaze last Thursday (Richard Lawrence GCC Ranger per Ian Elphick).

 

Tue 26th May 2009

Forest of Dean    A Turtle Dove purring in May Hill village this morning. (Rob Guest).

Symonds Yat    A Red Kite at midday to the W of the viewpoint, also three Peregrines and at least two Spotted Flycatchers (two territories). Also 56 Painted Ladies counted passing through during the day and two Club-tailed Dragonflies. (Luke Phillips).

Coombe Hill Meadows    This morning a first-summer Spoonbill still at 7:30am from Grundon hide at 7:30am. Also a Little Egret, a pair of Canada Geese with four smallish goslings, two pairs of Shelducks, a male Gadwall, a Redstart singing, one Reed Warbler, 2/3 Sedge Warblers, 1/2 Lesser Whitethroats and at least six Whitethroats, all singing. At the Wainlodes end, the Canada Geese have hatched four goslings and taken them onto the Severn. A Roe Deer in a hayfield at SO 847275. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Gloucester    At Sandhurst a calling Cuckoo, two Lesser Whitethroats and a Linnet and near the river a Banded Demoiselle. At Castlemeads a Banded Demoiselle, a Broad-bodied Chaser and numerous Common Blue Damselflies. (Steve Brown).

 

Mon 25th May 2009

Lydney    This morning two Common Terns on Lydney Pools (behind the railway station), a Sedge Warbler beside Lydney canal and a Greenshank flying down river towards Aylburton. (Barrie Mills).

Forest of Dean    Two pairs of Mandarins on the pond opposite Pedalabikeaway and a pair of Mandarins at Woorgreens lake. Three Tree Pipits at Woorgreens/Crabtree Hill and a Lesser Redpoll over. A Siskin over at Oakenhill ridge. Another Tree Pipit at Sallow Vallets. A Dipper and two juvenile Nuthatches at Parkend. (MK). Pic by Mike.

Tree Pipit

Cotswolds    From just N of Barrington Park to Sherborne Meadows today a pair of Kingfishers, a Red Kite and a pair of Willow Tits collecting caterpillars for their young. Also Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, a couple of Garden Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat and many Painted Ladies. (Richard Tyler).

WWT Slimbridge    A Spoonbill this afternoon at 1:30pm from Zeiss Hide. Also three Black-tailed Godwits at South Lake and a couple of Linnets from the Holden Tower. (Ray Sherman/Martin McGill, WWT). Record shot by Ray.

Spoonbill

Gloucester    A Kingfisher flying over the back garden at Hempsted towards Llanthony Priory/canal. (Gordon Avery).

 

Sun 24th May 2009

Forest of Dean    This morning at Kensleyridge Inclosure SO624130 three Wood Warblers, two male Pied Flycatchers, a Garden Warbler and a Cuckoo. At Little Kensley Inclosure SO626125 a Redstart. (Barrie Mills). A Turtle Dove at Oakenhill today. (Tony Eveleigh). At Nagshead, three Pied Flycatchers, two Redstarts, a Nuthatch feeding young and three Spotted Flycatchers reported. At Speech House a pair of Redstarts and a calling Stock Dove. Early evening at Boy's Grave two singing Tree Pipits, a Garden Warbler, two Fallow Deer, a Roe Buck and a Fox, a Nightjar churring from 9:30pm. Many Painted Lady butterflies throughout the area. (Steve Brown). At Flaxley this afternoon a Goshawk, a Hobby, a Cuckoo, three Garden Warblers, two Siskins and two Hawfinches. At Flaxley Pool a female Mandarin with seven ducklings and a Turtle Dove nearby at Elton Lane. (Andy Jayne).

A Redstart again at Speech House this morning. (Allan Chard). Pic by Allan.

Frampton    Around the Sailing Lake tonight two Common Terns, a Cuckoo, a Nightingale singing at 9:15pm and many Pipistrelles. (Mike Youdale).

Ashleworth Ham    Two Cuckoos including one being mobbed by five Swallows, five Reed Buntings, three Willow Warblers, three Buzzards, 1+ Reed Warbler, a male Wigeon, two Blackcaps, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Chiffchaffs, four Redstarts, two Bullfinches, a Skylark, three Whitethroats, a Sedge Warbler and a Stock Dove. (Mark Grieve).

Painswick Beacon    A Red Kite over heading SW at 10:15am. (Andy Chapman).

Quedgeley    A Raven circling over the garden at 9:45am. (MK).

Fretherne/Saul Warth    An Oystercatcher, a Little Egret, a pair of Redshanks and two Lapwings this morning. (MK).

Leckhampton    A Stock Dove on Leckhampton Hill and Large Skipper butterflies this morning. (Steve Brown).

 

Sat 23rd May 2009

Forest of Dean    At Woorgreens three adult Wild Boar, at least four Garden Warblers, four Willow Warblers, a Tree Pipit with nest material, a Dingy Skipper and a Painted Lady. At Speech House two male Redstarts, a Wood Warbler below the Sculpture Trail and a Grey Wagtail feeding two fledged young at the hotel. At Nagshead five singing Wood Warblers, four male Pied Flycatchers, at least one Spotted Flycatcher and Marsh Tits and Nuthatches both feeding young. (Jake King/John Overfield).    

Elmstone Hardwicke    A pair of Lesser Whitethroats and a pair of Sparrowhawks this morning. (Peter Cadogan).

Symonds Yat    A Red Kite distant to the NE at 5pm also a Hobby showing well in front of the viewpoint hawking insects, a Goshawk, the Peregrine pair, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Cuckoo through N. Also a Wood Warbler and a Garden Warbler reported from near the car park and six sightings of Club-tailed Dragonfly coming up from the river and heading over the canopy. (Luke Phillips).

Westbury-on-Severn    This morning a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and a pair of Yellow Wagtails near the Strand. (Andy Jayne).

Gloucester    At Gloucestershire Airport at Staverton from the perimeter footpaths four Linnets, three Skylarks, two male Blackcaps, a pair of Buzzards, a Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and a House Martin, a family of Long-tailed Tits and two Orange Tip butterflies. (Howard Taylor).

WWT Slimbridge    Two Mediterranean Gulls on South Lake this morning, also Black-headed x Mediterranean Gull hybrid. At high tide a summer-plumaged Grey Plover. (James Lees, WWT).

Saul Warth    10+ Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Egret this morning. (MK). Later eight Sanderlings, two Curlews, two Little Egrets, a Mandarin and a Greenshank. (Jake King/John Overfield).    

Frampton pools    Two singing Nightingales, a Common Tern on Court Lake and a Hobby over the village this morning. (MK).

 

Fri 22nd May 2009

Symonds Yat    From Yat Rock an Osprey through going N and also a Hobby. (Luke Phillips).

Frampton    At the Sailing Lake this evening a Hobby and two Common Terns. Nearby a Nightingale singing, an Otter seen passing through the undergrowth between the lakes. Also a Little Owl and Pipistrelles in abundance through the fields and trees. (Mike & Gordon Youdale).

WWT Slimbridge    Three first-year Mediterranean Gulls on South Lake this afternoon. (Paul Masters).

Forest of Dean    At least six Pied Flycatchers at Nagshead, a pair of Redstarts at Speech House, c6 House Martins collecting mud and grass in the field adjacent to the Arboretum car park and several young Nuthatches at the car park. (Allan Chard). Pics by Allan.

Pied Flycatcher

Redstart

House Martin

Nuthatch

Thu 21st May 2009

Frampton    At the WWT 100-Acre tonight a Hobby sitting on post, a Whimbrel, a Redshank, three Common Terns and six Swifts. By Splatt Bridge 20+ Long-tailed Tits in brambles by the gate including many juveniles and a Little Egret towards the River. (Bill Church).

Dowdeswell Reservoir    This evening a Reed Warbler, two Chiffchaffs and three Goldcrests heard, four Swifts and two Coal Tits with young. (Howard Taylor).

Charlton Kings    A Treecreeper this evening on the slope up from Beeches Road and a Jay and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in Timbercombe Woods. (Steve Brown).

 

Wed 20th May 2009

Cotswold Water Park    At Pit 43 4+ Hobbies, 11 Red Crested Pochards (10m, 1f), 15+ Black-headed Gulls, 3+ Common Terns and a Garden Warbler heard. A Hobby flying on the Thames Path side of Pit 38. At Pit 57 11 Red Crested Pochards (8m, 3f), a female Pochard with one duckling, 11 Common Terns, c10 Black-headed Gulls and Canada Geese with goslings. A singing male Nightingale on the side of the road by Pit 36. Also a Cuckoo heard calling towards Pit 65/43. (Brent Stephenson).

Paganhill    A Red Kite circling over Paganhill from Archway School at 4:45 pm today, then went east over Stroud. (Jake King).    

Fretherne    Four Grey Plovers, four Ringed Plovers and two Dunlins this evening. (Mark Hobson).

Frampton    A Hobby over the WWT 100-Acre this morning. (Geoff Moyser).

Dursley    A garden Red Kite over late afternoon. (Geoff Moyser).

Forest of Dean    At Nagshead, three Pied Flycatchers, three Wood Warblers and a Siskin. At Cannop Ponds five Siskins (1m, 4f), three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Marsh Tit, two Treecreepers, eight male Mandarins plus two pairs and a female with four ducklings. (Graham Watson). Pics by Graham.

Mandarins

Siskin

Wood Warbler

Tue 19th May 2009

Frampton    On the Sailing Lake two Common Terns today. (Don Smith).

WWT Slimbridge    A Common Tern and a Mediterranean Gull on South Lake, and from Zeiss hide, three Greenshanks and a Marsh Harrier. (Don Smith).

Fretherne    At 4:30pm today, 33 Dunlin, four Ringed Plovers, two Curlews, two Oystercatchers and a pair of Wigeon. (Dave Evans).

Coombe Hill Meadows     An immature Spoonbill from 10am at the Grundon hide until 7:15pm at least. Sometimes it is out of view on the Long Pool. (Les Brown). Also nine Dunlin, two Curlews, 15 Mute Swans, two Shelducks, a Raven over and a Cuckoo calling. (Brent Stephenson/Jon Mercer). Pic by Brent.

Cheltenham    A Pipistrelle and a larger unidentified bat hunting in back gardens in Naunton Park at 9:30pm. (Steve Brown).

 

Mon 18th May 2009

Frampton    At the Sailing Lake tonight three Common Terns, 50+ Swifts low over the water, 20+ mixed group of Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins, a Green Woodpecker and a Hobby over field towards Court Lake. (Bill Church).

Coombe Hill Meadows From Grundon hide 16 Mute Swans, six Canada Geese, two pairs of Shelducks, a Greenshank, a Little Egret, a Curlew and a Brown Hare. From the canal path a Blackcap, two Whitethroats and a Bullfinch. (Howard Taylor).

 

Sun 17th May 2009

Cheltenham    Two Garden Warblers in Pilley Nature Reserve and another near Daisybank car park, Leckhampton Hill. (Steve Brown).

Cowley    A Cuckoo calling near Hill Barn Farm. (Steve Brown).

Ashleworth Ham    A pair of Wigeon, Teal and a male Mandarin, a male Cuckoo and a Curlew over, a family of Long-tailed Tits, a singing Lesser Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff today. (Howard Taylor).

Uley    A Red Kite over the village seen from Uley Bury at 11am. (Phil Pope).

Frampton    At the Sailing Lake two Yellow Wagtails still this morning. (Mark Hobson).

WWT Slimbridge    A Mediterranean Gull and a Common Tern on South Lake today. (Richard Tyler). Pics by Richard.

Mediterranean Gull

Common Tern

Sat 16th May 2009

Forest of Dean    Two Nightjars churring at 9:20pm at a Forest site this evening.  (Lewis Thomson). I will only report Nightjars from Boy's Grave again this year. This is an easily accessible site to watch Nightjars and as with other years I will not report from other sites but please send your records in.

Fretherne    Over the high tide at lunchtime a summer-plumaged Grey Plover, three Whimbrels, two Curlews, 19 Dunlin and three Ringed Plovers. (Jon Mercer).

Saul Warth    A Little Egret, four Redshanks, a Whimbrel, a pair of Wigeon and Cuckoo and Cetti's Warbler heard at 7:30am. (MK). View from the canal bank at Saul Warth.

WWT Slimbridge    Two Mediterranean Gulls on South Lake today until 3:50pm at least. (Paul Masters/Andy Chapman/Mark Hobson). 13 Sanderlings and a summer-plumaged Grey Plover from Mid Point. (Geoff Moyser).

Frampton    At the Sailing Lake two Yellow Wagtails this morning. (Paul Masters/Andy Chapman).

Dowdeswell Reservoir    Two Treecreepers seen, three Goldcrests and a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard, still two Tufted Ducks, two Little Grebes and two Great Crested Grebes and a juvenile Mute Swan. (Howard Taylor).

 

Fri 15th May 2009

Saul Warth    Three Wood Sandpipers this evening on the flashes. (Nick Goatman). A Wood Sandpiper still today at 8am. (Gordon Hodgson). This afternoon a Little Egret, four Black-tailed Godwits and four Whimbrels. Also the Australian-type Shelduck hybrid apparently paired with a female Shelduck. (MK). View from the canal bank at Saul Warth.

Cam    A Red Kite over Manor Road housing estate, Cam this morning at 10am. (Jenny & John Heslop).

Frampton    Eight Common Terns on the Sailing Lake this afternoon. Also at the Sailing Lake a Hobby, a Sparrowhawk and three Yellow Wagtails (2m, 1f). (Julian Long/Don Potter/Graham Watson/MK).

WWT Slimbridge    At high tide a Kittiwake, five Knot, six Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Sanderlings,  280 Dunlin, 190 Ringed Plovers, three Grey Plovers, two Turnstones and a Whinchat. (Martin McGill, WWT).

Lydney    Two Sandwich Terns flew up river with a Common Tern at 11am this morning seen from Lydney harbour. (John & Viv Phillips).

Tuffley    A Red Kite flying NW over Tuffley, being mobbed by a Crow this morning. (Rob Purveur).

 

Thu 14th May 2009

Frampton    A ROSEATE TERN on the Sailing Lake briefly late afternoon between 4:30-4:40pm. No sign between 5:30-7pm. (John Overfield). Also at the Sailing Lake a Common Tern, an Arctic Tern, 50+ Swifts, two Shelducks and a Yellow Wagtail. (Paul Taylor/Andy Chapman/MK). A GREAT WHITE EGRET early morning in the WWT 100-Acre, but flighty, landing briefly at Splatt Bridge before flying high N towards Saul Warth, but no sign there later. An unringed Snow Goose of unknown origin in with the feral geese again today in the field across the road from Court Lake until 12:20pm at least. (MK).

Snow Goose

WWT Slimbridge    A POMARINE SKUA and an Arctic Skua off of Mid Point at 2:45pm but not relocated later. (Martin McGill, WWT).

Pics here http://anserbirding.co.uk/blog/?p=636.

Saul Warth    A Wood Sandpiper still today at 12:30pm. Also two Redshanks, 14 Black-tailed Godwits and large numbers of Swifts. Nearby a Cetti's Warbler, two Grey Herons and two Little Egrets. (Geoff Moyser/Graham Watson). View from the canal bank at Saul Warth.

Cotswold Water Park    At Pit 57 a Black Tern, 8+ Common Terns, two Hobbies, five male Red Crested Pochards, two Shelducks, a Redshank and two Nightingales singing. At Swillbrook Lakes three Nightingales and a Spotted Flycatcher. (Graham Watson/Don Smith). Pic by Don.

Nightingale

Longborough    Today at 12:15pm a Red Kite flew up off of the ground and soared very low over the Windy Ridge Arboretum. It had several primaries missing on the left wing and is probably the same bird seen at Weston Subedge three weeks ago. (Stephen Martin).

Broadoak    A Grey Plover and a Turnstone today. (John Phillips).

Arlingham    A Red Kite over Arlingham Warth today. (John Phillips).

Aston Down    A Ringed Plover on the runway at Aston Down airfield today. (Richard Cawsey).

 

Wed 13th May 2009

Cotswold Water Park    Seven Black Terns this evening on Pit 57. (Graham Lawlor/Dave Creber). Also here 6+ Common Terns, a Cuckoo, a Nightingale (singing by the approach road), a Garden Warbler, a Hobby, two Reed Buntings (m, f) and good numbers of hirundines. At Swillbrook Lakes 5+ Nightingales, 3+ Garden Warblers, a Reed Warbler, a Cuckoo, two Red Crested Pochards (m, f) and two Fox cubs playing on the main road near the entrance and an adult on the path on the far side by the building work. (Mark Dowie).

Lydney    At 3:45pm today a GREAT WHITE EGRET flew upriver at Lydney Harbour, at low altitude and very close to the shore, with a flock of six Little Egrets. (John Phillips).

Saul Warth    A Wood Sandpiper this evening at 6pm. Also two Greenshanks, a Garganey, a Yellow Wagtail, 100+ Swifts, Swallows, and House Martins. (Neil Smart). View from the canal bank at Saul Warth. Still present at7pm. (MK). Pic by Graham Watson.

Swallow

Frampton    A summer-plumaged Black Tern on the Sailing Lake this evening from 5pm. Also a Yellow Wagtail and 80+ Swifts. No sign between 7-8:15pm. (Phil Pope/Neil Smart). Also at the Sailing Lake two Common Terns and two Little Egrets flew in to roost. (Richard Baatsen/MK). An unringed Snow Goose of unknown origin in with the feral geese again today in the field across the road from Court Lake. (Nick Goatman). Still present at 8:30pm. (MK).

Tuffley    A garden Jay today. A garden first. (Mark Hobson).

 

Tue 12th May 2009

Ebworth    A Hobby flew E chasing Swallows over Ebworth park cottages at 5:30pm. A Raven flew over Workman's Wood NNR at 6:30pm heading SW. (John Fleming).

Frampton    An unringed Snow Goose of unknown origin in with the feral geese this evening at Court Lake. (Nick Goatman).

Forest of Dean    At Nagshead today four singing Pied Flycatchers and three Wood Warblers singing. A Redstart and three Pied Flycatchers at Woorgreens car park. A Garden Warbler and a Tree Pipit by the lake. Please keep to the footpaths at Nagshead and do not enter the undergrowth, photographers please show restraint with nesting birds. (Phil Pope). Three singing male Pied Flycatchers and a male Redstart around the car parks near Speech House this afternoon. (Lewis Thomson). Pic by Lewis.

Pied Flycatcher

 

Eastington    At Millend today two Brimstones, an Orange Tip, a Speckled Wood, a Common Blue, three Small Whites, two Large Whites and a Comma. (Jake King).

Cheltenham    At Naunton Park a garden Grey Squirrel this evening, only the third record in 24 years. (Steve Brown).
 

Mon 11th May 2009

Stroud    A Dipper at 6am on the Painswick stream near the Royal Mail Sorting Office in Cheltenham Road. (John Fleming).
Bisley    A Red Kite flying SW over High Wood, N of Bisley at 10:45am.  (John Fleming).

Ebworth    A Kingfisher flew E over the gardens at Ebworth park cottages at 3:30pm, near Overtown Farm at 4pm, two Buzzards, 14 Stock Doves, 48 Rooks, 26 Jackdaws, six Linnets, four Yellowhammers, 12 Carrion Crows, a Kestrel and a flyover Turtle Dove heading NE. (John Fleming).

Frampton    At Splatt Bridge this morning in the horse field a male Yellow Wagtail with a male Pied Wagtail and a Common Tern over the village. (Jake King).

Cambridge    A Spoonbill flew S over Ryall's Lane at 9am today. Also here two Hobbies and a Common Tern. (Nick Goatman).

Forest of Dean    A group of five fledgling Long-tailed Tits sitting in scrub at Forge Hill, Lydbrook being fed occasionally by the parents. (Chris Sullivan). At Nagshead two male Pied Flycatchers, a Treecreeper, two Jays and two Blackcaps. At Cannop Stoneworks on the feeders three Siskins (2m, 1f), two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Nuthatch, a Coal Tit and a Goldfinch. From the bridge a Grey Wagtail, male and female Mandarin (m, f), a Swallow and a House Martin. (Howard Lloyd with Thornbury U3A Group). Please keep to the footpaths at Nagshead and do not enter the undergrowth, photographers please show restraint with nesting birds. 

Gloucester    This morning at Sandhurst Lane, male and female Cuckoos calling, a Lesser Whitethroat singing near The White Horse and another between the lane and Plock Court. (Steve Brown). At Sudmeadow a Garden Warbler trapped and ringed (first here this season), a Little Egret on the Lower Parting loosely accompanied by a very noisy Canada Goose and seven Whimbrels flew N over Sudmeadow. The first record since one was seen flying over on the 13th June 1995. (Gordon Avery).

Chedworth    A Cuckoo calling this morning and Swifts flying over screaming. (Gill Tovey).

 

Sun 10th May 2009

Coombe Hill Meadows    This afternoon from the Grundon Hide 16 Greylags, 12 Canada Geese, six Mallards, four Shelducks, four Coot, two Lapwings, a Whimbrel, a Pied Wagtail and a Sand Martin hawking. Close to the metal kissing-gate leading to the boardwalk a Reed Warbler, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat. Warblers along the canal included Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and a Redstart heard. Butterflies included Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Green-Veined White, Large White and Small White and in the lane leading back to the A38 a day flying Brimstone Moth. (Keith White).

Cotswold Water Park    At the Gateway Centre two Cetti's Warblers singing, a Green Woodpecker; Garden Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Blackcaps and Reed Buntings all singing and showing around the lake and the canal. At Swillbrook lakes three Nightingales, a Cuckoo and a Common Tern. Another Cuckoo in flight near Pit 57. A Nightingale singing and showing on the Spine Road near Keynes Country Park on the Glos Boundary. On the Thames Way along the old railway a Roe Deer. (Steve Brown).

Sherborne Water Meadows    A Cetti's Warbler next to the River Windrush, a Cuckoo and a Kingfisher today. (Paul Masters).

Kingscote/Calcot area    Today 14 Wheatears, four pairs of Yellowhammers, seven pairs of Whitethroats on territory, five Buzzards, two pairs of Stock Doves, five singing Corn Buntings and a pair of Yellow Wagtails on territory in a rape field. Also five Brown Hares and a leveret. On Stinchcombe Hill, two Dingy Skippers and three Grizzled Skippers. (Neil Smart). Pics by Neil.

Corn Bunting

Wheatear

Berkeley    A Red Kite took off from a field near the old railway station at Berkeley at 4:30pm SO684005. (Ray Sherman).

Aylburton Warth/Guscar Rocks    At high tide this morning 91 Dunlin, 39 Ringed Plovers, 68 Lapwings, 26 Shelducks, 24 Redshanks, 13 Curlews, four Oystercatchers and two Common Sandpipers. Also six pairs of Yellow Wagtails, eight singing Reed Warblers, three Wheatears (two females and a Greenland race male), a Reed Bunting and a Brown Hare. (Lewis Thomson). Pic by Lewis.

Yellow Wagtail

 

 

Forest of Dean    Eight Red Kites heading SW over New Fancy View at 12:40pm very high up. Also a Cuckoo calling, a Raven, a Tree Pipit, 3+ Buzzards,  and a Garden Warbler. Also eight Adders and a female Slow Worm there. (Brent Stephenson/John & Paul Moon). A Red Kite over Lydney from 2:30-2:40pm. (Ron Beddis). A Red Kite seen at 4:15 pm at Glasshouse, flying NE away from May Hill. (Elizabeth Butler).

At Nagshead at Cuckoo heard, 4+ Wood Warblers, a Marsh Tit, male and female Pied Flycatcher. (John & Paul Moon/Geoff Moyser). Please keep to the footpaths at Nagshead and do not enter the undergrowth, photographers please show restraint with nesting birds. 

At Cannop Stone Works at 12:40pm four Siskins on nut feeders. (Geoff Moyser). Also at Cannop Ponds at 2pm two pairs of Mandarins and three Grey Wagtails. (John & Paul Moon).

At Speech House a male Pied Flycatcher by the stained glass window and three Garden Warblers at the entrance to Woorgreens lake and a Tree Pipit nearby. (Geoff Moyser). Also at Woorgreens a male Redstart and a male and female Pied Flycatcher. A Willow Tit along the  pine-lined pathway to Great Kensley Inclosure. Also here a male Wild Boar and a female with three piglets at 3pm. A Wood Warbler at Crabtree Hill plantation. (Mike & Bridgette King). Also at Speech House a pair of Redstarts, a Treecreeper and two Mistle Thrushes. (Steve Davies/Malcolm Royal). At The Fountain Inn at Parkend a Dipper and a Grey Wagtail. (Paul Moon). Pics by Steve Davies.

Redstart

Wood Warbler

Dursley    A Red Kite over Highfields at midday. (Shane Long).

Saul Warth    A Spoonbill this morning until 11:30am at least. (John Overfield). Also a drake Garganey, 20 Black-tailed Godwits and a Greenshank. On the river three Whimbrels and two Oystercatchers. (John Overfield/MK). Also two Common Terns through at 11:15am. (Paul Masters). View from the canal bank at Saul Warth. Pics by MK.

Spoonbill

 

Frampton    Two Yellow Wagtails in the field adjacent to the Sailing Lake at the top of Vicarage Lane this morning. (John Overfield).

WWT Slimbridge    A Sedge Warbler from the Kingfisher Hide, a Reed Bunting along the South Finger. Two Common Terns at South Lake and c20 Black-tailed Godwits. (Ray Sherman). An Arctic Tern from Mid Point this morning. (

Wainlode Hill    A Cetti's Warbler calling just past the public drain , also a Cuckoo, a Redstart, two Whitethroats, a Sedge Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, ten Sand Martins, two House Martins, three Swallows and two Curlews. (Mark Grieve).

Gloucester    At Gloucestershire Airport at Staverton from paths east of the airfield five Buzzards, one mobbed by two Carrion Crows, six Swifts, six Lesser Whitethroats by the M5/J11 interchange, five Whitethroats, three Chiffchaffs, a pair of Linnets and a Jay over. (Howard Taylor).

Ebworth    At the Ebworth Centre at 7am , three Wheatears (2m, 1f) perched on the roof of an outbuilding, three flyover Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading E and a pair of Swallows. In Workman's Wood NNR, two Green Woodpeckers, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Jays, a Goldcrest, a Buzzard, two Moorhens and a Blackcap. (John Fleming).

Tirley    Two Ravens over today. (Mark Grieve).

 

Sat 9th May 2009

Eastington    At Millend early evening two Little Egrets on the Frome north arm, before one only flew downriver. (Jake King).

Charlton Kings    This afternoon at Ravensgate Hill three Cuckoos (2m, 1f) chasing around and calling below the scarp. (Steve Brown).

Symonds Yat    A Goshawk, the Peregrine pair, a Sparrowhawk and Buzzards this afternoon. (Brent Stephenson). A Spotted Flycatcher from Symonds Yat viewpoint late morning. (Lewis Thomson). 

Ebworth    A Red Kite overhead moving S, low over farm buildings N of Foston's Ash at 4:45pm, then circled over Workman's Wood NNR before climbing high and heading off in a south-westerly direction. (John Fleming).

Forest of Dean    This morning at Woorgreens three singing Redstarts and a singing Pied Flycatcher between the car park and the lake and two Garden Warblers by the lake. Another two Redstarts by Speech House. (David Owen). Two Wood Warblers at Nagshead this morning, five Pied Flycatchers singing and a Cuckoo heard. Also a Tree Pipit singing just N of Cannop Stoneworks on the opposite side of the road in the clearfell area. (Jon Mercer). A Tree Pipit at Boy's Grave, a Dipper behind The Fountain Inn at Parkend and two Adders at New Fancy View. (Shane Long/Kyle & Olivia Hancock). Pic by Jon.

Wood Warbler

Cotswold Water Park    At Swillbrook Lakes, Pits 46/48 four Nightingales, two Cuckoos, two Garden Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, a Little Ringed Plover and Common Terns on Pits 57/58. (David Finch/Richard Tyler). First pic by David, next two by Richard.

Sedge Warbler

Garden Warblers

 

Frampton    A Nightingale between the pools, a Hobby through, 54 non-breeding Mute Swans on Court Lake, a pair of Barnacle Geese with three goslings and at least 50 Greylag goslings. A Cetti's Warbler in the reedbed N of Splatt Bridge and another calling further north. Also N of Splatt Bridge three Little Egrets. (Andy Lodge/Brent Stephenson/MK).

Fretherne/Saul Warth    This morning four Whimbrels, two Sanderlings, 13 Dunlins, two Oystercatchers, c20 Black-tailed Godwits, two Ringed Plovers, a pair of Wigeon, 50+ Swifts and a Little Egret. (Graham Watson/Richard Tyler/Jake King/Andy Lodge/Brent Stephenson/MK).

Severn Hams    At Coombe Hill Meadows two Roe Deer on the towpath at 6:45am, c35 non-breeding Mute Swans on the scrapes, 13 Greylags, a pair of Canada Geese with four goslings, another pair at Cobney Meadows still on eggs, at least four Shelducks, a Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, two non-breeding Lapwings, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming along the south bank of the canal not far from the Wharf (present for a week) and two singing Redstarts heard. At Wainlode Hill, the Cetti’s Warbler is still singing but has moved across to the west bank of the river. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Cam    Two adults Dippers feeding five recently fledged juveniles at the bottom of JL's garden in Lower Cam today and a pair of Grey Wagtails. They should be viewable on the stream by the Railway Inn. (James Lees, WWT). Pic by James.

Dipper

Dowdeswell Reservoir    Two Greylags, a pair of Great Crested Grebes, a Little Grebe and four Tufted Ducks on the reservoir. In the woodland six Chiffchaffs, at least three Goldcrests, three Song Thrushes, a Cuckoo calling, a female Blackcap and a Coal Tit this morning. (Howard Taylor).

 

Fri 8th May 2009

Cotswold Water Park (E)    In the Pit 104 area two Oystercatchers, four Hobbies, a Common Tern, 100+ Swifts, 20 Sand Martins, eight Swallows, eight Garden Warblers, four Reed Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, two Sedge Warblers, two Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Blackcaps, three Chiffchaffs, three Reed Buntings, a Kingfisher, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, eight Red Crested Pochards and a party of 11 Long-tailed Tits, mostly fledglings. (Mick & Jo Jones).

WWT Slimbridge    A Little Tern flew S past Mid Point close in-shore at 9:30am and two were on the estuary at 11:40am. (Geoff Moyser/Pete Alder/Martin McGill, WWT).

 

Thu 7th May 2009

Ebworth    A Red Kite high over Foston's Ash Inn at 2pm. 50+ Stock Doves, a male and two female Wheatears, a Yellowhammer, two pairs of Red-legged Partridges, a Mistle Thrush, a Kestrel and a Stonechat around Overtown Farm. A Treecreeper, a Nuthatch, a Long-tailed Tit, a Marsh Tit and a Bullfinch around Ebworth Office. Five pairs of Swallows, a pair of Pied Wagtails and a Tawny Owl also around the Yard. (Rob Palmer).

WWT Slimbridge    A female Whinchat and a eight Wheatears today. (James Lees, WWT).

Cotswold Water Park (E)    At Pit 114: a Garganey, three Hobbies, a Nightingale singing on the island, a Wigeon, a Pochard, a Reed Warbler, five pairs of Red Crested Pochards and two Shelducks. (Steve Davies).

Berkeley shore    Ten Whimbrels, eight Wheatears, seven Sedge Warblers and seven Whitethroats today. (Geoff Moyser).

Gloucester    A rooftop Grey Heron today at 10am flew off towards Robinswood Hill. (Janet & John Datchens).

Grey Heron

Wed 6th May 2009

Lower Stone    At 9:30am a Red Kite flew towards Whitcliff Deer Park. Also a singing Garden Warbler here. (Derek Edmondson).

Dowdeswell Reservoir    A pair of Tufted Ducks, two Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe and a Common Sandpiper seen at the edges. In the woodland three Whitethroats and three Song Thrushes singing, a Jay, a Goldcrest and a Kestrel and a Buzzard over. (Howard Taylor).

Woodford    On Little Avon River a pair of Mandarins, a pair of Kingfishers, a pair of Dippers with at least two young, a Little Egret and a pair of Grey Wagtails. (Derek Edmondson).

Forest of Dean    At Woorgreens Greylags with broods of two, three and seven goslings. Also Canada Geese with two goslings. At Speech House lake (Three Island Lake SO625115) Greylag Geese with broods of two and three goslings and a Cuckoo calling to the South. (Bob Broughton).

 

Tue 5th May 2009

WWT Slimbridge    From Kingfisher Hide this morning two Kingfishers, three Tufted Ducks (2m, 1f) and three Shelducks (2m, 1f). From Zeiss Hide c24 Shelducks, two Lapwings, 100+ Black-headed Gulls, two Shovelers, at least two Reed Warblers, five Tufted Ducks (3m, 2f) and an Oystercatcher. (Harold Smith).

Minsterworth Ham    Two Shelducks, a Curlew, a Whinchat, two Lesser Whitethroats and three Brimstone butterflies. (Andy Jayne).

Forest of Dean    Three Redstarts (2f, 1m) near the school opposite Speech House and a Mandarin in a tree at Cannop ponds. (Allan Chard). Pic by Allan.

Mandarin

Wainlode    Seven Swifts flew N, two Blackcaps, a Whitethroat, three Redstarts, a Swallow, a Cuckoo, two Stock Doves, a Raven over, a Curlew heard and a Chiffchaff. (Mark Grieve).

Coombe Hill Meadows    From Wainlode to the Grundon Hide, three Buzzards, five Redstarts, a Stock Dove, two Blackcaps, eight Willow Warblers, 12 Whitethroats, a Yellowhammer, 38 Swifts, eight Swallows, two Chiffchaffs, six Reed Buntings, a Green Woodpecker, five Whimbrels feeding in the meadow next to the Withy Way, a Jay, a Raven, a Lesser Whitethroat and on the scrape three Curlews, three Lapwings, two Pied Wagtails and three Shelducks. (Mark Grieve).

Gloucester    At Staverton at Gloucestershire Airport SO82V early this morning five Whitethroats and three Lesser Whitethroats all singing, also six Linnets, five Blackcaps, two pairs of Buzzards, 13 Swallows and a Swift flying over. (Howard Taylor/Gordon Kirk). An unseasonal Grey Wagtail on Sudmeadow and a Common Sandpiper at the Lower Parting. (Gordon Avery).

Ebworth    South of Overtown farm at 3:30pm , on pasture five Wheatears, a male and four females, eight Swallows, four House Martins and a Swift heading N, three singing Skylarks and a pair of Linnets. Also W of Camp village, a pair of Kestrels and a Buzzard circling over Famish Hill Wood at 11am. (John Fleming).

 

Mon 4th May 2009

WWT Slimbridge    A Wood Sandpiper on the Top New Piece late afternoon. (Martin McGill, WWT). Same first date and finder as last year.

Edge Common    A male Cuckoo in flight and heard calling on the common 3:30pm today. (Greg Anderson).

Stroud    A Common Sandpiper on the River Frome by Waitrose. (Tim Hutton/Martin Wright).

Frampton    At the pools at 6pm a heavy Swift passage of c160  birds in the air at once. Also c100 Sand Martins and a few Swallows under heavy cloud. (Mike Teesdale).

Cotswold Water Park    Three Nightingales heard and one seen at Swillbrook Lakes this morning. (Felicity Cobb).

Quedgeley    An adult Water Rail with downy chick at Clearwater Drive this morning. (Andy Chapman).

Ebworth    This morning at Foston's Ash a Lesser Black-backed Gull over W, 12 Swallows, 12 Swifts and two House Martins heading N, three Yellowhammers, four Linnets, five Goldfinches, two Buzzards, three Mistle Thrushes, a Blackcap, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Rooks and a pair of Red-legged Partridges. One Raven headed S at 8.30am and 31 Stock Doves were feeding on manured pasture near Overtown farm at 9am. (John Fleming).

Forest of Dean    At Nagshead today two pairs of Pied Flycatchers, a Wood Warbler singing and a Redstart. At Speech House three Redstarts (2m, 1f) on the School side of the road. (Graham Cox/Richard Tyler). At Mallard's Pike a singing Tree Pipit, a singing Garden Warbler, a Willow Tit briefly seen and heard and several Siskins. (Tim Hutton/Martin Wright). First two pics by Richard and the next four by Graham.

Pied Flycatchers

 

Wood Warbler

 

 

Sun 3rd May 2009

WWT Slimbridge    A drake Garganey, an adult Curlew Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, seven Whimbrels, 18 Dunlin and a drake Pintail from Zeiss hide today. (James Lees, WWT/Mark Hobson). 

Frampton    This morning two Nightingales between the lakes, two Whimbrels in the field opposite the Sailing Club and a Common Sandpiper on the jetty. (Phil Pope/DBPS).

Severn Hams    Along the Avon at Upham Meadows, six Curlews and a Redshank, c8 Sedge Warblers singing, a Mute Swan and a Canada Goose nesting and two broods of Mallard ducklings. Along the Severn at Mythe Brook another pair of Mute Swans nesting, a pair of Canada Geese, a male Tufted Duck on the Brickpits, a Curlew and two Lapwings on the wet green field below Shuthonger Common, a Yellow Wagtail in the last field before the County boundary, a Nightingale singing, six Lapwings, two Redshanks, two Little Ringed Plovers and four Curlews. (Mike Smart). Also Redstarts showing well at Ashleworth Ham today. (Richard Tyler). Pics by Richard.

Redstarts

 

Coombe Hill Meadows    From the wharf to Grundon hide, two Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs, four Willow Warblers, ten Whitethroats, three Bullfinches, two Cuckoos, a Redstart, a Curlew heard, four Sedge Warblers, four Swallows and a Green Woodpecker. From the hide, three Shelducks, a Buzzard, a Lapwing, two Reed Buntings and a House Martin, a Sand Martin and five Swifts through N. (Mark Grieve).

Tirley    Four Buzzards soaring together and six House Martins. (Mark Grieve).

 

Sat 2nd May 2009

Ebworth    In Workman's wood NNR at 3pm, two Buzzards, two calling Green Woodpeckers, two drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a pair of Marsh Tits, a pair of displaying Sparrowhawks over the wood, a Nuthatch, a Jay and a Tawny Owl. Near the Ebworth Centre a Painted Lady butterfly. On a freshly manured field west of Overtown farm at 4pm 54 Stock Doves, 38 Jackdaws and ten Carrion Crows. Also ten Yellowhammers in thorn scrub near Foston's Ash, and a pair of Long-tailed Tits. (John Fleming).

Corse    Three Ravens soaring today. (Mark Grieve).

Ashleworth Ham    This evening a displaying Lapwing at Colways farm, four Shelducks, a Chiffchaff, three Blackcaps, a Kestrel, two Reed Buntings, at least eight Redstarts, 12 Willow Warblers, three Sedge Warblers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, four Whitethroats, two Curlews, two House Martins, a Buzzard, a Grey Heron and two Swallows. (Mark Grieve).

Cotswold Water Park    13 Hobbies at Pit 58 this morning, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Oystercatchers, 15 Common Terns, eight Red Crested Pochards and a Broad-bodied Chaser. From Swillbrook Lakes to Pit 58 six Nightingales, five Garden Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, a Reed Bunting and two Cuckoos. At Pit 16 eight Common Terns, a Common Sandpiper, two Red Crested Pochards, c30 Swifts and c40 hirundines, mostly Sand Martins. (Paul Masters/David Finch). Pics by Richard Tyler and Nightingale pic by Paul.

Little Ringed Plover

Red Crested Pochards

Common Tern

Nightingale

Slimbridge    At least 18 Buzzards sharing a thermal near Shepherds Patch. A Lesser Whitethroat along the approach to WWT. (Steve Brown).

Ebley    Five Swifts over the canal at 8:35pm behind the Council offices. (Rob Palmer).

Symonds Yat    Two WHITE STORKS soaring over Yat Rock viewpoint this morning at 11:55am before drifting off South. (Frank Williams).

Frampton    A Fieldfare in a tree at Court Lake field then flew N early afternoon. (Nick Goatman). Four Lesser Whitethroats Green Lane/WWT 100-Acre and a Grasshopper Warbler reeling briefly near the viewpoint. (Steve Brown).

Cleeve Hill    Seven species of warbler now at Wardens Wood, the new arrival being Garden Warbler. Only a brief snatch of Grasshopper Warbler heard, two Cuckoos and a Hobby. A pair of Redstarts at Wontley Barn and several Tree Pipits singing and displaying. Pics by Richard. (Richard Tyler).

Tree Pipit 

Linnet 

Cuckoo 

Fri 1st May 2009

Cheltenham    An adult Peregrine seen perched on Christchurch Tower for around 30 minutes from 7pm. Also a Swift here. (Keith White).

Moreton-in-Marsh    At 3pm a Red Kite over the Fosseway. (Stephen Martin).

Frampton    At least three Yellow Wagtails feeding among the cattle beside the WWT 100-Acre, a Common Sandpiper at Splatt bridge and dozens of Swifts over the canal at Saul. (Bob Frewin). Also a Hobby high over the 100-Acre slowly drifting towards river. (Geoff Moyser).

Fretherne    On the lunch time tide at Fretherne, four Ringed Plovers, ten Dunlins, two Wheatears and a Whimbrel. (David Owen).

Quedgeley    An Oystercatcher circling around the Gloucester-Sharpness canal at the KFC basin this morning, also two Lesser Whitethroats and two Whitethroats between Sellars Bridge and Sims Bridge, and a Cuckoo calling from the direction of Hardwicke Farm. (Paul Masters).

Dursley    At Breakheart Quarry today six Dingy Skippers, two Grizzled Skippers, a Green Hairstreak and a Holly Blue. (Phil Pope).

 

Thu 30th April 2009

Witcombe Reservoir    Two Common Sandpipers still today. (Gordon Avery/Laurie Pierce). 

Gloucester    This morning a Cuckoo calling at 7:15am at Over Ponds, Alney Island. (Ian Elphick).

 

Wed 29th April 2009

Longborough    A Hobby flying very low over the Windy Ridge Arboretum at 9am. (Stephen Martin).

Cleeve Hill    At Warden's Wood a Grasshopper Warbler still at the gorse circle, reeling intermittently and showing occasionally this morning. Also Linnets, a Cuckoo, a few Tree Pipits and a Meadow Pipit. (David Plant). Pics by David.

Cirencester    A Red Kite drifting E over Cirencester at 2:45pm today. (Richard Tyler).

Fretherne    45 Whimbrel this morning. (Shane Long).

Wainlode    A Cetti’s Warbler still singing from riverside willows, at least 15 Swifts and three or four singing Redstarts. (Mike Smart).

Charlton Kings Common    Early morning a Roe Deer where Sandy Lane meets Daisybank Road. (Steve Brown).

Frampton    This afternoon a few Swifts with many Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins at Splatt Bridge and WWT 100-Acre, a Raven and a Little Egret over the 100-Acre. In Green Lane a Lesser Whitethroat, two Whitethroats and two Sedge Warblers all singing and a Sparrowhawk calling. (Steve Brown).

Gloucester    At Sudmeadow this morning a first-year male Nightingale ringed. The first Spring record here. Also a Shelduck on the Lower Parting. (Gordon Avery).

 

Tue 28th April 2009

Ashleworth Ham    Two Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers drumming and calling, 1+ Grasshopper Warbler reeling, ten each singing males of Redstarts and Sedge Warblers, still two Wigeon and two Shelducks on the pool but numbers of Lapwings desperately poor, practically none anywhere along the Upper Severn Vale this spring. (Mike Smart).

Cotswold Water Park    At Pits 46/48 a Nightingales, two Garden Warblers, a Cuckoo and five Common Terns this morning. (Shane Long).

WWT Slimbridge    A Wood Warbler this morning in the 50-Acre stall house hedge and turkey oaks. (Martin McGill, WWT).

Forest of Dean    At Cannop North Pond eight Mandarins (3prs & 2m), seven Tufted Ducks (4m, 3f), a Muscovy Duck, a Grey Wagtail and Nuthatch and Coal Tit at the feeders. At Cannop South Pond (Slate Factory) six Mandarins (1pr & 4m) and five Siskins at the feeders. At Nagshead RSPB three Mandarins at Lower Hide. At New Fancy View a Song Thrush, a Tree Pipit and four Ravens near the car park. (Alan Richards). Pic by Alan.

Mon 27th April 2009

Leckhampton Hill    A Tawny Owl hooting in the trees below the Devil's Chimney at 8:15pm. (Steve Brown).

Walmore Common    A Whinchat this evening. (Andy Jayne).

Witcombe Reservoir    Late afternoon 350 Swallows, 150 House Martins, 50 Sand Martins and a Swift through in an hour. Also a Yellow Wagtail, two Common Sandpipers and a Hobby buzzing a Kestrel. (Terry Fenton). Pic by Terry.

Cotswold Water Park    At Pits 46/48 three Nightingales and a Garden Warbler. At Pit 57 a Hobby over, two Lesser Whitethroats, seven Common Terns, an Oystercatcher and two Red Crested Pochards. At Pit 16 two Arctic Terns, two Common Terns, a Swift and hundreds of House Martins, Sand Martins and Swallows. (Graham Watson).

Bisley    At Southmead farm a Little Owl today. (Mark Grieve).

Forest of Dean    At Lords Hill, Coleford at 10pm 1+ Curlew heard calling in flight. (Frank Williams).

 

Sun 26th April 2009

Cotswold Water Park    Two Nightingales singing along the main Spine Road this morning, by the junction with the road to Somerford Keynes. (Jon Mercer). Five Nightingales singing along the first stretch of the footpath at Swillbrook Lakes. Also two Sedge Warblers, three Garden Warbler and a Cuckoo over. Three Hobbies hawking over Pit 57. (Bob Frewin/Graham Cox). Also six Swifts, a Buzzard, a Cuckoo, ten Red Crested Pochards, a Oystercatcher and an Osprey being mobbed by crows before flying N at 3pm. (Graham Cox). Pics by Graham.

 

 

Frampton    A Nightingale, a Little Egret, a Swift and a pair of Bullfinches this morning. At Splatt Bridge a Hobby and two Whimbrels. (MK). A Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the WWT 100-Acre this morning. (James Lees, WWT).

Fretherne/Saul Warth    Six Bar-tailed Godwits, two Common Sandpipers, three Whimbrels, a flock of 53 Swifts, and two Wheatears this morning. (MK/Richard Tyler/Terry Fenton). Pic by Richard.

Cleeve Hill    A Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Warden's Wood early this morning still. (Richard Tyler).

WWT Slimbridge    The Curlew Sandpiper again from Zeiss hide this morning. Three were reported later, but two of these birds were in fact larger, longer-billed northern race Dunlins. Also a Greenshank, two Oystercatchers, c20 Dunlins and two Little Egrets here. Three Mediterranean Gulls on South Lake this afternoon including a near adult. Also an Egyptian Goose here and earlier 20 Black-tailed Godwits dropped in. (James Lees, WWT/Martin McGill, WWT/John Budd/MK).

Forest of Dean    This morning at Cannop Stone Works to Farmers Green a Cuckoo and a pair of Redstarts in the fenced off area to the left of the path. At Nagshead a pair of Pied Flycatchers and a Lesser Redpoll with a small flock of Siskins, all on the short trail where it turns and leads up to the top path. (Mark Moore).

Upper Strensham    A Nightingale singing this afternoon just SW of Upper Strensham in the northern end of Harbour Wood at SO896388 right on the County boundary. (Mick Woodward).
Coombe Hill Meadows    From the wharf to the hide, five Willow Warblers, four Chiffchaffs, eight Whitethroats, four Sedge Warblers, a Green Woodpecker, four Bullfinches, a Cuckoo and two Redstarts. From the hide, a Swallow and a House Martin flew N, a Reed Bunting, three Buzzards, six Shelducks, a Curlew, a Lapwing, seven Whimbrels, two Grey Herons, two Oystercatchers and a Fox. (Mark Grieve).

 

Sat 25th April 2009

Frampton    A WHISKERED TERN on the Sailing Lake this morning until 12:15pm when it flew off high. It was briefly relocated at Saul Warth at 12:17pm but has now flown off, possibly to the WWT 100-Acre pools. Relocated on there at 2:58pm, then absent again until refound at about 4pm before flying off S at 4:18pm. Then spent 10 minutes on South Lake at WWT until 5pm only. Please park sensibly in the village. (Nick Goatman/Neil Smart). Also 5+ Swifts over. (Richard Tyler/Jon Mercer). Record shot by MK.

A flight pic by Graham Watson.

And two better pics by Richard Tyler.

 

 

Further flight pics by Nathan Casburn.

 

 

 

Earlier in the WWT 100-Acre two Greenshanks, two Black-tailed Godwits and two Little Egrets. (MK). A Whinchat and a Hobby from Splatt Bridge late morning. Also a Cuckoo at Nebrow Hill Oak Wood. (Shane Long/John Overfield/Jake King).

Saul Warth    Four Garganey (three drakes) still today. View from the canal bank at Saul Warth. (Jeremy Squire/Jon Mercer). At high tide 72 Bar-tailed Godwits, seven Whimbrels, 32 Dunlin and three Sandwich Terns, which went through high N over Hock Cliff.  (Richard Baatsen/John Overfield/MK). Later four Swifts over the flashes in a large mixed hirundine flock. (Geoff Moyser). Pic by Jon M.

Ablington    A Fieldfare still this morning at Saltway Barn SP10e N of Ablington. (Ian Ralphs).

Quedgeley    A Hobby flew S low over the garden at 12:55pm, with four Buzzards. (MK).

WWT Slimbridge    The Curlew Sandpiper again from Zeiss hide at 2:15pm. (Jon Mercer). Earlier 12 Bar-tailed Godwits on the high tide with at least six Dunlin, and two Peregrines. At 8:35am a first summer Kittiwake made its way down river to Mid Point then turned and headed north again. Also from Zeiss Hide today a Spotted Redshank, two Ringed Plovers, a Little Ringed Plover, a Ruff, ten Redshanks, three Greenshanks, a Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler. On South Lake an Arctic Tern, two Mediterranean Gulls (a first-summer and a second-summer) and 11 Black-Tailed Godwits. (Mark Moore/John Overfield/Jake King/Jon Mercer).

Cotswold Water Park    At Pit 79 two Little Ringed Plovers, at Shorncote reedbeds two Ruddy Ducks, at Pit 57 three Hobbies and a Garden Warbler and at Swillbrook Lakes 1+ Nightingale and a Cuckoo. At Pit 58 at least two Hobbies hawking inspects low over water. Also four Swifts, ten Red Crested Pochards and a Cuckoo heard.  (John Overfield/Jake King/Paul Rich). 

Coombe Hill Meadows    This morning four Bar-tailed Godwits, a Black-tailed Godwit, two Oystercatchers, three Little Ringed Plovers dropped in, then flew off at 8:25am, two Redshanks, up to seven Shelducks, at least six Sedge Warblers along the canal, 2/3 Lesser Whitethroats and at least 3/4 Redstarts singing. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Wainlode    At the River Severn at Wainlodes a Cetti’s Warbler, singing infrequently from riverside willows and a Yellow Wagtail over N. (Mike Smart).

Claypits   5/6 Whimbrels with c20 Curlews in a field, E of the A38 adjacent to New House Farm, SO760056 at 3:20pm . (Ray Sherman).

Hucclecote Meadows SSSI    Two Lesser Whitethroats, three Chiffchaffs, a Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Skylark and three Orange Tip butterflies. (Harold Smith).

Eastington    A Swift over Millend early morning. (Jake King).

Charlton Kings    Two male Siskins on garden feeders late today. (Graham Watson). Pics by Graham.

 

Fri 24th April 2009

Hawling    A Short-eared Owl this evening still at SP056222. (Ian & Sue Lavell).

Cross Hands    A Red Kite at 4:40pm over the A44 at the Chipping Campden turn. (Tim Hutton).

Cleeve Hill    At Wardens Wood a Grasshopper Warbler still at the gorse circle at 7:30pm. Also Wheatear and Linnet. (Tim Hutton/Richard Tyler). Pics by Richard.

 

 

Forest of Dean    A Tawny Owl at Nagshead early afternoon. A Pied Flycatcher seen near the lower hide. One deer from the Campbell hide. Several Mandarins at Cannop ponds, including two on the feeders. (Allan Chard). Pics by Allan. 

 

 

 

Elsdon    A male Redstart seen on Elsdon at SP039220 (Sheep Pens on the OS map) and two Redstarts calling in Elsdon Covert SP042215. (Phil Davis).

Fretherne    38 Bar-tailed Godwits, 31 Whimbrels, 14 Ringed Plovers and nine Dunlin. (John Overfield/Mark Hobson/Jake King). 

Frampton    A Swift drifting high to the N with c20 House Martins, two Whitethroats, a Cuckoo, a Nightingale, 6+ Blackcaps and three Chiffchaffs. (Roy Bircher). In the WWT 100-Acre two Yellow Wagtails, a Ruff approaching breeding plumage and a two Black-tailed Godwits, two Grasshopper Warblers and a Whinchat still. On the flashes N of Splatt Bridge a Greenshank, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Lapwing with three chicks and a Cetti's Warbler by the towpath. Also a Cuckoo calling from the Nebrow Hill area. (James Lees, WWT/Graham Watson/Paul Masters/Julian Long). Late evening a Hobby, a Nightingale, a Common Tern and a Common Sandpiper at the Sailing Lake. (Nick Goatman).

WWT Slimbridge    44 Bar-tailed Godwits at high tide and the Curlew Sandpiper still with a Spotted Redshank, three Black-tailed Godwits and five Dunlin from Zeiss  hide. Also a first winter moulting into first summer Mediterranean Gull on South Lake and an Egyptian Goose and two Oystercatchers. (James Lees, WWT/Graham Watson/John Overfield/Bob Shiret/Paul Masters/Julian Long). Pics by Bob.

 

Also five Whimbrels on the pool in front of the Holden Tower. (Paul Masters). Pic by Paul.

Saul Warth    A Hobby this morning. (Nick Goatman). A pair of Garganeys, seven Black-tailed Godwits and 40 Sand Martins on the south flash this morning; 19 Bar-tailed Godwits, six Whimbrels, two Oystercatchers and a Common Sandpiper on the river at low tide this afternoon. (Paul Masters/Julian Long). 

Eastington    16 Whimbrels over this morning. (Nick Goatman).

Cotswold Water Park    A Bar-tailed Godwit at Pit 57 on the far side from the Thames footbridge. Also three Hobbies feeding over the back of Pit 57. At Pit 31a singing Garden Warbler. At Pit 79/79a/89 a White Wagtail, a Ringed Plover, five Little Ringed Plovers and three Redshanks. (Jon Mercer).

Walmore Common    Two Little Ringed Plovers, three Lapwings, at least two Reed Warblers, two Sedge Warblers, two Lesser Whitethroats singing and four Linnets and lots of Orange Tip butterflies. (Mike Smart ).

Shurdington    A Cuckoo heard early this morning in Whitelands Lane, from direction of Leckhampton escarpment. (Paula Wilkinson).

 

Thu 23rd April 2009   

Elmstone Hardwick    A Swift over today. (Peter Cadogan).

Leigh Meadows    This evening a Curlew and two Lapwings, two singing Lesser Whitethroats and a Redstart. (Mike Smart).

Weston Subedge    At 5:30pm a Red Kite flying very low over the Honeybourne Road. (Stephen Martin).

Fretherne    This evening a Common Sandpiper, a Dunlin, 32 Whimbrels, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, four Wheatears, an Iceland Gull and a male Peregrine. (Jake King/John Overfield/Richard Baatsen).

Frampton    At the WWT 100-Acre this evening two Grasshopper Warblers reeling, a Whinchat and a Bar-tailed Godwit. On the flashes N of Splatt Bridge a Greenshank and a Ruff. Also a Nightingale at the top end of the Sailing Lake, ten Little Egrets and 15 Great Crested Grebes. (Shane Long/Geoff Moyser/Jake King/John Overfield).

Leonard Stanley    A Red Kite circling overhead with four Buzzards at 2:30pm. Probably the same bird as Stonehouse. (Dave Camm/Terry Evans). A male Goshawk over Middleyard mid-afternoon and a possible female distant towards Ebley. (Terry Evans).

Stonehouse    A Red Kite over SKF at Oldends Lane at 12 midday in the direction of Stanley Downton. (MK). A single Redwing at Bridgend today. (Dave Evans).

WWT Slimbridge    A breeding plumaged Curlew Sandpiper on the Top New Piece at 4:45pm still. Also a Lesser Whitethroat in the car park. (Phil Pope).

Over/Highnam    On the lane between Over Farm Market and Lassington Woods four singing Yellowhammers and several singing Linnets. (Ian Elphick).

Dursley    At Breakheart Quarry today three Dingy Skippers and seven Grizzled Skippers. (Phil Pope).

Coombe Hill Meadows    Two Little Ringed Plovers, two singing Lesser Whitethroats, at least three singing Redstarts and two Linnets. (Mike Smart).

Longborough    At 11am a Garden Warbler singing in a garden damson tree. (Stephen Martin).

Tirley    A Tawny Owl calling at 9pm, also singing Whitethroat earlier. (Mark Grieve).

Gloucester    At Alney Island in and around Richard's Wood, singing Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings today. (Steve Brown).

Forest of Dean    A Cuckoo calling on the edge of the clearfell below the view point at New Fancy this morning. (Frank Williams).

Cleeve Hill    At Wardens Wood 16 singing Willow Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, five Whitethroats, two Chiffchaffs, a Tree Pipit, four male Bullfinches together and two Cuckoos displaying and chasing each other. Also many Yellowhammers and Linnets and a Brown Hare by the car park. At Wontley Farm 2+ Tree Pipits, a pair of Stonechats and a male Wheatear.  (Graham Watson). Pics by Graham. Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer and a Stonechat.

 

 

 

 

Wed 22nd April 2009

Little Witcombe    A Red Kite (with several inner primaries missing from left wing) drifted NE at 6pm. Possibly the same bird as Stonehouse. (Terry Fenton).

Stonehouse    A Red Kite over SKF at Oldends Lane at 4:05pm in the direction of Standish where it circled for a while with two Buzzards. Also a Roe Deer in the field next to the main road at Newtown by the beehives. (MK).

WWT Slimbridge    A breeding plumaged Curlew Sandpiper on the Top New Piece this morning. (Martin McGill, WWT).

Saul Warth    A drake Garganey, a first-winter Little Gull and ten Black-tailed Godwits still. (Tony Eveleigh).

Fretherne    Three Whimbrels and a Lesser Whitethroat singing again. (Tony Eveleigh/John Overfield).

Frampton pools    A Cuckoo, a Nightingale and eight Little Egrets today. (Tony Eveleigh).

Hawling    At 1pm a pair of Curlews, five Wheatears (2m, 3f) and three Corn Buntings. (Stephen Martin).

Coombe Hill Meadows    In the evening four Shelducks, 15 Greylags, a hybrid Greylag x Bar-headed Goose, two Oystercatchers, two Black-tailed Godwits, eight Curlews came to roost, a Whimbrel, a Sparrowhawk and a Cuckoo. (Mike Smart). Along the canal three Blackcaps, five Willow Warblers, four Whitethroats, six Chiffchaffs, a Jay and a Bullfinch. From the hide two Curlews, a Sedge Warbler, two Tufted Ducks, two Shelducks, two Grey Herons, a Lapwing, six Sand Martins, 6-8 Swallows and one or two House Martins, a Black-tailed Godwit, two Buzzards, a Raven, a Green Woodpecker, a male Cuckoo, two Oystercatchers and two Whimbrels this morning. (Mark Grieve). 

Stroud    This morning a Common Sandpiper at Wallbridge on the canal in Stroud. (David Owen).

Shurdington    A Lesser Whitethroat singing at the end of School Lane. (Steve Brown).

Brockhampton    A garden Fieldfare today. (Phil Davis).

Forest of Dean    At Boy's Grave the Great Grey Shrike still at SO619111 today. (Frank Williams). Also at Boy's Grave a Tree Pipit and two Ravens. At Wenchford a Kingfisher and two Treecreepers. At New Fancy View a male Cuckoo and two Siskins. At Cannop Stone Works five Siskins on feeders and five Mandarins including a mating pair. (Derek Hale). Also at New Fancy View four Goshawks, a Garden Warbler, 1/2 Lesser Redpolls, and also a female Adder. At Speech House two Redstarts singing. At Cannop Ponds a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling and a Tree Pipit in the clearing NW of bottom end of Lower Lake. (Robin Nelson). A singing Wood Warbler at Crabtree Hill. (Martin Drew). A Swallow over Lords Hill in Coleford. (Frank Williams). Pics by Derek.

 

Tue 21st April 2009

Forest of Dean    At Nagshead a Pied Flycatcher this morning and a Garden Warbler singing by car park at New Fancy View. This evening at 9:50pm two Woodcocks at Kensley Lodge. (Derek Hale). Pics by Derek.

 

WWT Slimbridge    A PECTORAL SANDPIPER briefly in the WWT 100-Acre this morning, which flew off N, also singing Grasshopper Warbler and a Cuckoo near the platform, a male Whinchat at Mid Point hide and a male Ruff in near-breeding plumage on the scrapes. Also a Painted Lady in Bull Ground today. (Martin McGill, WWT).

Cotswold Water Park (W)    At Pit 46 2+ Nightingales singing and a Sedge Warbler. At Pit 58, two Hobbies hawking over the lake and a Common Tern and another tern possibly an Arctic. At Pit 57, a Cuckoo calling and flying round near the parking area and at Pit 79 three Little Ringed Plovers, a Redshank and a Garden Warbler. (Laurie Pierce). Two Common Terns flying over Pit 32 today. (Alan Richards).

Cleeve Hill    A very showy Grasshopper Warbler reeling 200 yards to the right of the Trig point (from Warden's Wood) in a young gorse patch. Also three Cuckoos, a female Wheatear and a pair of Stonechats. (David Owen).

Saul Warth    Two drake Garganeys and a Little Gull still this morning. (David Owen).

Symonds Yat    At Yat Rock a Hawfinch flew through N at midday, also three Marsh Tits and an immature Goshawk as well as the Peregrine pair. (Luke Phillips).

Little Rissington    A female Wheatear on the airfield. (Gordon & Margaret Avery).

Northleach    A Red Kite being harassed by a crow over the A40 at Northleach at cSP125146. (Gordon & Margaret Avery).

Lower Swell    A pair of Barnacle Geese on the island in small lake at SP177257 at Lower Swell. In the neighbouring copse a Garden Warbler singing, also a Kingfisher on the Windrush at Naunton. (Phil Davis).

Berkeley shore    A Whimbrel this morning. (Shane Long).

Cam   At 5:30am this morning a Tawny Owl on top of an electricity pole in Woodfield at ST743997. (Ray Sherman).

Ashleworth Ham    From the hide two Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Little Egret, five Lapwings, two Shelducks, two Pintails (m, f), two Wigeon (m, f), four Teal, a Redstart, three Willow Warblers, a Reed Bunting and a Grey Heron. On Berrow Hill (behind the hide), two Blackcaps, six Chiffchaffs, three Lesser Whitethroats, two Whitethroats, four Lapwings, four Buzzards and a male Yellowhammer. At Tirley two Swallows on breeding territory. (Mark Grieve).

Coombe Hill Meadows    Ten Shelducks, two Oystercatchers, a pair of Tufted Ducks, five Whitethroats, eight Willow Warblers and eight Chiffchaffs this afternoon also a Cuckoo heard and seen at the Long Pool Hide. Also 27 Stock Doves and a pair of Yellowhammers on fields near to Knightsbridge. (Howard Taylor).

 

Mon 20th April 2009

Forest of Dean    At Boy's Grave the Great Grey Shrike still at SO619111 this morning at 9:25am. Also a Tree Pipit there. At Crabtree Hill a Wood Warbler, a Tree Pipit and c8 Siskins. At Speech House paddock a Redstart and a Lesser Redpoll. (Derek Hale). Pic by Derek.

Symonds Yat    A Peregrine and a Marsh Tit at feeders. (Derek Hale). 

WWT Slimbridge    A female MONTAGU'S HARRIER over the WWT 100-Acre for 20 minutes at 9am before it flew off high to the N. Also two Large Red Damselflies today. (James Lees, WWT/Martin McGill, WWT). 

Cotswold Water Park    A Nightingale showing well at Swillbrook Pits 46/48 this morning. Three birds heard, all within the first 100 yards from the entrance. (Don Smith).

Saul Warth    A Little Gull and four Garganey (three drakes) this morning. Nearby a Lesser Whitethroat still at Fretherne. (Shane Long/Laurie Pierce).

Frampton    A Nightingale at the top end of the Sailing Lake again today. (Shane Long).

Gloucester    A Common Sandpiper in the canal basin by KFC today. (Mark Hobson).

 

Sun 19th April 2009

Adlestrop    A Lesser Whitethroat singing today. (Laurie Pierce).

Forest of Dean    At New Fancy View a Goshawk, four Siskins, five Buzzards and two Swallows. (Derek Hale). 

WWT Slimbridge    An Iceland Gull (first or second-winter) flew N up river with large gulls at 9:15am. (John Budd). At South Lake a first and second summer Mediterranean Gulls early morning only. Also five Black-tailed Godwits, four Oystercatchers and a Kingfisher. From Zeiss hide a Spotted Redshank, 20 Redshanks, a Little Egret and a Reed Warbler. (James Lees, WWT/MK/Neil Smart). Pics by Mike.

 

Cleeve Hill    At Wardens Wood a Grasshopper Warbler reeling and showing well in the gorse circle early morning. Also 8+ Willow Warblers, two Whitethroats, a Jay and two Ravens over. (Graham Watson). Pics by Graham. Also a male Redstart in the valley near the Washpool this morning. (Vic Polley/Dursley Birdwatching Club). A Cuckoo heard throughout the evening in the Piccadilly farm area, a Lesser Whitethroat heard briefly, and a Green Woodpecker. (Keith White).

 

 

 

Saul Warth    Two Whimbrels this morning and three drake Garganeys on the flashes. Also this morning a first-summer Little Gull still, 15 Black-tailed Godwits flew in to join c3 already present, four Redshanks, two Curlews, c30 Shovelers, two Wigeon and c12 Gadwall, two Lesser Whitethroats, a Cetti's Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Redstart heard, a Reed Warbler, five Swallows, eight House Martins and four Great Crested Grebes. (Richard Baatsen/Mark Moore/Francis Steuck/Graham Bullivant).

Other birds between the Sailing Lake, Saul Warth, Splat Bridge, the WWT 100-Acre, Green Lane and the Boat House café included 18 Chiffchaffs, 14 Blackcaps, nine Sedge Warblers, eight Willow Warblers, four Lesser Whitethroats, four Little Egrets, three Cetti's Warblers, two Reed Warblers, two Siskins and single Common Sandpiper, Wheatear and Whitethroat. (Francis Steuck).

Frampton    At the Sailing Lake today seven Little Egrets, 350 Sand Martins and six House Martins. (Graham Bullivant/Francis Steuck). Pic by Graham. In fields and hedgerows E of the Sailing Lake at least three recently arrived Whitethroats. Also four Buzzards and a Green Woodpecker and Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Small White, Speckled Wood and Peacock butterflies. (Keith White).

Gloucester    A Green Sandpiper and a Cuckoo at Sudmeadow and two Wheatears on the GLS dislope. (Gordon Avery).

Cotswold Water Park    This morning four Nightingales singing at Swillbrook lakes. (Steve Brown).

Cheltenham    Mid afternoon a Peregrine soared over Naunton Park for ten minutes (a garden tick) and two Buzzards soaring and locking talons. (Steve Brown).

Ebworth    Near Overtown farm, two Buzzards, a Wheatear, a Swallow heading N, a flyover Herring Gull NE, a Raven, five Yellowhammers, four singing Skylarks and a pair of Red-legged Partridges at 7am. (John Fleming).   

 

Sat 18th April 2009

Symonds Yat    Two Crossbills over heading E, also four Peregrines (a pair, an immature female and one other adult) and two Goshawks today. (Luke Phillips).

Foston's Ash    A Snipe flew SE over Foston's Ash at 7:30am. (John Fleming).
Highnam Woods    Three Nightingales this morning, also three drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Green Woodpeckers and a pair of Bullfinches. (Paul Masters). 

Ashleworth Ham    Three singing male Redstarts along Stank Lane, also a pair of Curlews and another calling bird and a Little Egret from the hide today. (Jon Mercer).

Cleeve Hill    On the Bill Smyllie Butterfly Reserve two Tree Pipits and a Redstart today. (Dave Pearce).

WWT Slimbridge    At Mid Point five Grey Plovers and a Whimbrel. (Pete Alder/Steve Brown). On the Summer walkway a Lesser Whitethroat, and another in the overflow car park. From Zeiss hide two Spotted Redshanks in summer plumage. At South Lake a second summer Mediterranean Gull. Also big movement of Swallows in the area with small numbers of Sand Martins and House Martins. (Steve Brown).

Fretherne/Saul Warth    A first-summer Little Gull, a drake Garganey, 16 Black-tailed Godwits on the flashes at Saul Warth and a Cetti's Warbler calling early this morning. A Lesser Whitethroat in the hedge leading from the road to the sluice. In the evening a fairly large hirundine flock  mainly Sand Martins and House Martins, with a few Swallows. (Richard Baatsen/MK/Richard Tyler/Andrew Crutchley). Pic by Richard.

 

Frampton    Three Common Sandpipers, a Common Tern and four Little Egrets, c100 Sand Martins, and a few Swallows and House Martins this morning on the Sailing Lake, nearby at the top end of the lake a Nightingale singing. (Nick Goatman/Richard Baatsen/MK). A Cetti's Warbler showing in the reed bed N of Splatt Bridge and a Common Sandpiper S of the bridge. (MK). This evening a Short-eared Owl hunting along the river bank viewed from the canal. Also a single Whimbrel with the Curlew flock on the river. (Andrew Crutchley)

Slimbridge    A Yellow Wagtail over Wisloe Lane mid-morning. (Richard Baatsen). 

Gloucester    13 Swallows at Telford's Bridge, at Port Ham a Kingfisher and a Snipe both on the W channel of the Severn, a male Reed Bunting and a Sedge Warbler singing near substation scrape. In Richard's Wood (S) a Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler. (Ian Elphick). At Staverton at Gloucestershire Airport nine Swallows, four soaring Buzzards, four Stock Doves, a singing Blackcap and a Sparrowhawk being chased by two Pied Wagtails, all seen from nearby footpaths. (Howard Taylor).

 

Fri 17th April 2009

Berkeley shore    A Scandinavian Rock Pipit on the foreshore south of the Power Station before flying off high S and a Grasshopper Warbler singing and showing by the pond at Severn House Farm copse. (Paul Taylor).

Cheltenham    A Firecrest with two Goldcrests along Lansdown Road a couple of hundred yards down from Montpellier Roundabout going in the direction of the Texaco Garage. (Chris Berry).

Fretherne/Saul Warth    A Lesser Whitethroat still in the hedge by the water works. Five Yellow Wagtails over and one feeding by the flashes, on the river a Whimbrel, 11 Ringed Plovers, six Dunlin and four Oystercatchers. Also two Snipe over at two Little Gulls on the flashes this afternoon. (Nick Goatman). A juvenile Little Gull, a drake Garganey (North flash), 12 Black-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper early this morning. (Gordon Hodgson).

Brockhampton    In the garden this evening a hunting Barn Owl, two hooting Tawny Owls and a Fox (vixen) at SP044221. (Phil Davis).

Frampton    Five Common Sandpipers this morning on the Sailing Lake, hundreds of Sand Martins and two Oystercatchers over. Also a Barn Owl at Nebrow Hill Oak Wood this evening. (Nick Goatman/Jake King).

Coombe Hill Meadows    A Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Dunlin and a Yellow Wagtail from the Grundon Hide, with several hundred Swallows and House Martins this afternoon. (Chris Stott).

Cotswold Water Park    At Pit 16 5+ Arctic Terns, 3+ Common Terns. At Pit 57 nine Dunlin, two Ringed Plovers and three drake Red Crested Pochards. At Swillbrook Lakes 2/3 Nightingales seen and heard in the area nearest the entrance. Also 4+ Blackcaps, a Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff. (Graham Watson).

 

Thu 16th April 2009

Lydney    Two Arctic Terns off Lydney harbour this morning, they flew slowly upriver when the tide came in. Also six Bar-tailed Godwits flying up on the tide and two Sanderlings on the estuary there. (John & Viv Phillips).

Symonds Yat    A Tree Pipit overhead this morning and a few Meadow Pipits over, also four Peregrines (two intruding females and a pair). (Luke Phillips).

Cotswold Water Park    At Pit 16 this evening 3+ Arctic Terns, four Common Terns and a mixed flock of 400+ hirundines, mostly Sand Martins. (Jon Mercer).

Berkeley shore    A male Hen Harrier flew north east past Severn House Farm towards Berkeley Power Station at 10:55am today. (Paul Taylor). Also a Common Sandpiper in the Pill mouth, a Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler seen in Oxbow lake to the NE of the Power Station, and migrating north a Yellow Wagtail and small parties of Linnets and Goldfinches. (Geoff Moyser).

Cleeve Hill    At Warden's Wood early morning two Grasshopper Warblers reeling, one showing in scrubby hawthorn at the NE corner, a male Cuckoo, three Whitethroats, seven Linnets, five Yellowhammers, ten singing Willow Warblers and pair Lapwings just SW of the wood. (Jake King).

Fretherne/Saul Warth    Four Little Gulls flew from Saul Warth to preen on a sandbank in the river, joined by a Grey Plover then all flushed by male Peregrine, a Sanderling with eight Ringed Plovers through, a Lesser Whitethroat in the hedge by the water works and eight Sand Martins through. (Jake King). Also 12 Black-tailed Godwits, three Redshanks, a Snipe, a Little Egret, a Little Grebe, two Tufted Ducks and two Wigeon amongst the usual numbers of Teal, Gadwall and Shovelers, and a Sedge Warbler by the tow-path. (Dave Evans/Graham Watson).

WWT Slimbridge    At Mid Point three Grey Plovers and a Yellow Wagtail over. (Graham Watson).

 

Wed 15th April 2009

Foston's Ash    Five Redwings and a Swallow flew N over Foston's Ash at 7pm. (John Fleming).

Cleeve Hill    A male Ring Ouzel this evening feeding on path by heather enclosure. (Greg Mabbett). Pics by Greg.

   

Frampton    Three Common Sandpipers on the Sailing Lake this evening.  (Nick Goatman).

Saul Warth    Two first-winter Little Gulls on the left hand flash viewed from the canal bank at Saul Warth at 5pm. (Phil Pope).

Forest of Dean    At Boy's Grave the Great Grey Shrike still at SO619111 this morning, showing well down in the bottom NW corner of the site. (Ivan Proctor).

WWT Slimbridge    A summer plumaged Spotted Redshank still in front of Zeiss hide at 4:30pm. (Phil Pope). 22 Arctic Terns past Mid Point at midday, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose and an Iceland Gull today. (James Lees, WWT/Jake King).

Gloucester    A Whitethroat singing at 7:40am in Richard's Wood South, Alney Island. Also a Kingfisher crossing Castlemeads Way at Castlemeads at 7:50am and a Green Sandpiper on scrapes by Port Ham substation at 6:50pm. (Ian Elphick).

Cam    A Wheatear on Cam Long Down today. (Geoff Moyser).

Guiting Power    A Little Egret feeding at a private lake belonging to Guiting Grange and roosting in an old tree along with the local Grey Herons on the banks of the River Windrush at Guiting Power. Present since 11th April. (Claire Forbes).

Amberley    Still three Siskins feeding in garden at Theescombe Lane, SO8501 Also male Lesser Redpoll feeding a garden first. (Phil Williams).

 

Tue 14th April 2009

Inchbrook    Five adult Dippers and a juvenile, a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, a Chiffchaff, two Blackcaps and a Willow Warbler singing at SO004844. (Phil Williams).

Stinchcombe    A Wheatear on Stinchcombe Hill today. (Geoff Moyser).

Saul Warth    Two first-winter Little Gulls on the left hand flash viewed from the canal bank at Saul Warth until early afternoon at least. (Vic Polley/MK/Dave Evans/Paul Masters). Also a Little Tern flew in from the river at 12:15pm over the flashes and then high N following the canal. (MK).

Forest of Dean    At Boy's Grave the Great Grey Shrike still at SO619111 at 3pm. (Rare Bird Alert).

Frampton    A Kingfisher, a Mandarin, a Cetti's Warbler and c20 Sand Martins on the Sailing Lake. Two Spotted Redshanks on the WWT 100-Acre. View only from the viewing platform or the viewing gate in Green Lane.  (Vic Polley).

Cleeve Hill    Still two Grasshopper Warblers on the common and a Cuckoo calling in the distance, but no Ouzels in a three hour search. (Phil Davis).

Cam    A Whitethroat on Cam Long Down today. (Phil Pope).

 

Mon 13th April 2009

Popes Hill    A singing Wood Warbler at Chestnuts Wood today. (Andrew Bluett).

Cotswold Water Park    Two Nightingales singing at Swillbrook Pits 46/48 this evening. (Jon Mercer).

Purton    A Wheatear by the Timber Ponds, also a Reed Warbler, a Sedge Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler heard. (Geoff Moyser).

Quedgeley    A Tawny Owl perched in a tree on the edge of the building site beside the new houses on the Kingsway Estate at 8:35pm. (MK/Bridgette King). A garden singing male Willow Warbler this morning. (Paul Masters).

Painswick    A Dipper and a Grey Wagtail on the Painswick Stream at Damsells Mill this afternoon . (Paul Masters).

Hawling    Two Short-eared Owls this evening still at SP056222. Also seven Stock Doves at SP057214. (Phil Andrews).

Aylburton Warth    A Blue-headed Wagtail briefly this morning at 10:45am before it flew off high westwards. Also three Yellow Wagtails, seven White Wagtails and four Pied Wagtails on the Warth, and a Grey Wagtail on Cone Brook, 200+ Curlews, 27 Lapwings, 19 Redshanks, 14 Shelducks, 10+ Swallows and four House Martins over, four Wheatears (3m, 1f), a Reed Warbler and a9 Stoat. (Lewis Thomson). Record shot by Lewis.

Cleeve Hill    Two Grasshopper Warblers early morning at Warden's Wood, reeling and showing well. Also male and female Cuckoos, a Whitethroat, 12 Stock Doves and four Brown Hares. (MK). A male Ring Ouzel still this morning and also another flying N very high. (Graham Bullivant/Andrew Crutchley/Tom Reynolds). Another Grasshopper Warbler on the common. (Richard Tyler). Pics by Richard Tyler.

 

More pics by Graham Bullivant.

 

Fretherne/Saul Warth    A drake Garganey on the flashes viewed from the canal bank at Saul Warth still this morning. Also 15 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, an Oystercatcher, five Curlews, two Redshanks, a male Wheatear, both Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail heard and two Brown Hares. (MK). Two Little Gulls, an adult summer and a first-summer, late morning. (Andrew Crutchley/Tom Reynolds).

Coombe Hill Meadows    From Grundon hide a Whimbrel on the small island and also a male Yellow Wagtail there. (Mick Woodward). From the Withy Way to the hide four Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs, six Willow Warblers, a Jay, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Redstarts, a Curlew, three Swallows flew N, six Lapwings, a male Wheatear in the north meadows, 12+ Reed Buntings, a Grey Heron, four Shelducks, five Greylags, two Meadow Pipits, a Whitethroat, a Treecreeper, a Sedge Warbler and four Buzzards at a very great height with a probable Goshawk drifting northwards. Also a Brown Hare. (Mark Grieve).

Gloucester    At Port Ham a singing Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting, also the first Large Red Damselfly of the year here. (Andrew Bluett).

 

Sun 12th April 2009

Berkeley shore    An Arctic Skua flew N past the Power Station at 10:10am. (Paul Taylor).

Hawling    75 Golden Plovers almost all in full breeding plumage at Hawling junction of A436 and B4068 (SP074221) and one displaying Lapwing. (Phil Davis).

Cleeve Hill    At 1pm a Wood Warbler heard singing briefly twice, but not seen, from the road south of the aerials, where the north section of the butterfly reserve meets the beech wood. (Keith White). This evening still 5 or 6 Ring Ouzels, a Short-eared Owl, the Grasshopper Warbler still reeling, a Wheatear, two Stonechats, good numbers of Willow Warblers, three Ravens, a Swallow and a Redstart nearby. (Mark Dowie). Also earlier a distant Peregrine. (Mick & Jo Jones/Phil Davis). At least four Ring Ouzels in the cattle area just north of the heather enclosure to 8:30am at least, also c200 yards S of the heather enclosure a reeling Grasshopper Warbler showed well. (Mark Moore). Pic by Mark.

Frampton    A Short-eared Owl at 10:05am close to the edge of estuary, viewed from gate by Splatt Bridge. It flew off south along the estuary mobbed by crows and gulls. (Clive Mowforth). Two Little Gulls on the Sailing Lake this morning until 10am then one again this afternoon. (Richard Baatsen/Chris Stott/Nick Goatman). Also an Egyptian Goose on Court Lake this morning, a pair of Ravens over and a Little Owl between the lakes. (Andy Lodge/MK). A Reed Warbler, nine singing male Blackcaps between Blue Pool and the Gravel Wash and three Willow Warblers. (Roy Bircher). At Nebrow Hill Oak Wood a Tawny Owl roosting in one of the canal trees next to the car park this morning. (Chris Stott).

WWT Slimbridge    A Shag flew fast up river on the tide, went up high over Hock Cliff, circled and then flew high and strongly NW. Also two Ringed Plovers, seven Dunlin and two Peregrines from Mid Point. At Holden Tower a Common Sandpiper on the scrape and at least two Whimbrel on the Dumbles with the Curlew and at least two Spotted Redshanks from Zeiss Hide. (Graham Watson/Mark Moore)

Saul Warth    A Garganey on the flashes viewed from the canal bank at Saul Warth still this morning. Also a Little Gull. (Chris Stott).

Ashleworth Ham    Three Redstarts along Stank Lane this afternoon. (Shane, Julian & Michael Long).

Highnam Woods    A Nightingale singing this morning towards the chicken farm, and possibly two others. (Lee Rogers).

Crickley Hill    A Cuckoo calling this morning. (Terry Fenton).

Tidenham    A female Goshawk over and a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Ash Grove wood on the west side of Miss Grace's Lane Tidenham at 11am today (ST551994). (Gavin Black).

Tirley    At Flat Farm a Yellow Wagtail over, a Swallow, four Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, at least three Yellowhammers, two Treecreepers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, three Buzzards, two Stock Doves and 15 Fieldfares. (Mark Grieve/Colin Butters).

 

Sat 11th April 2009

Huntley    A singing Lesser Whitethroat at Huntley Hill at 10am today. (Robin Husbands).

WWT Slimbridge    Three Avocets, a Little Gull and a Mediterranean Gull from Zeiss hide today. Also a Short-eared Owl and a Whimbrel at Mid Point and a Reed Warbler singing at Zeiss hide. (James Lees, WWT/Jon Mercer).

Cleeve Hill    A Grasshopper Warbler reeling strongly and showed well at 8:30pm at Warden's Wood, also Cuckoo and Tawny Owl heard. (Ben Macdonald). Up to seven Ring Ouzels in and around the Heather Enclosure and in the cattle pen area this morning. Also a Curlew over, a Grasshopper Warbler, three Wheatears (1m, 2f), two Stonechats, two Redstarts and a Cuckoo heard at Warden's Wood and another by the masts. (Paul Masters/MK/Jon Mercer/Steve Owen/Richard Tyler). Pic by Richard.

Another pic by Jon.

Saul Warth    A female Garganey on the flashes viewed from the canal bank at Saul Warth still this morning. Also 18 Black-tailed Godwits, several Redshanks and a Snipe. (Jon Mercer).

Berkeley shore    A Whitethroat this morning. (Shane Long).

Highnam Woods    Two Nightingales singing today. (Chris & Phil Andrews).

Forest of Dean    In the Woorgreens/Kensley area today nine Goosanders, two Goshawks and a Sparrowhawk high overhead, a male Redstart, a male Pied Flycatcher, four Ravens, about 20 Lesser Redpolls and two Hawfinches. Also two Tree Pipits nearby at Yewtreebrake. (Andy Jayne). At New Fancy View four Buzzards and two Goshawks circling with several Chiffchaffs around. At Farmers Green another Goshawk, a pair of Grey Wagtails nesting by the Stoneworks at Cannop Ponds, a migrant Blackcap, another Grey Wagtail, a pair of Reed Buntings and a Mallard roosting 20 feet up a tree. At the Cottage by Woorgreens two House Martins. (Mark Moore).

Gloucester    At Sudmeadow today three Teal on the Plantation Pool, a male Peregrine over, a Green Sandpiper and two Willow Warblers in the marsh. Nearby on the GLS dislope a Red-legged Partridge and a male Wheatear. (Gordon Avery).

Cheltenham    At Ravensgate Hill, Charlton Kings this morning a Tree Pipit, two Yellowhammers, two Linnets, two Willow Warblers and several Chiffchaffs all singing and a Green Woodpecker. Late morning a Peregrine flushed half a dozen Feral Pigeons from Eagle Tower, Cheltenham but made no kill. A Grey Wagtail by the River Chelt next to Rodney Road car park. Three garden Willow Warblers at Naunton Park. (Steve Brown/David Anderson).

Coombe Hill Meadows    Two pairs of Shelducks, 15 Teal, a single Wigeon. 25 Mute Swans, a few Curlews, two Whimbrels flew in mid-morning. Also at least 15 Willow Warblers, ten Chiffchaffs, two Sedge Warblers, a Whitethroat and at least six Redstarts. (Mike Smart/Les Brown/John Wiltshire).

Ashleworth Ham    Nine Redstarts, 13 singing Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, three Blackcaps, five Chiffchaffs, 43 Teal, two Wigeon, two male Pintails, three Gadwall (1m, 2f), two Shelducks, two Curlews, five Lapwings, a Little Egret, seven Reed Buntings, two Bullfinches, a Cuckoo, two Jays, four Buzzards, a Meadow Pipit, a Green Woodpecker, two Stock Doves and a Cormorant. (Mark Grieve/Mike Smart/Les Brown/John Wiltshire).

Tirley    Two House Martins inspecting a nest site. (Mark Grieve).

Donnington    A Grey Wagtail today. (Richard Tyler). Pics by Richard.

 

Fri 10th April 2009

Witcombe reservoir    Two Sand Martins, 40 House Martins, 40 Swallows, two Common Sandpipers, a Grey Wagtail, a Willow Warbler and two Whitethroats. (Terry Fenton).

Forest of Dean    A Firecrest at the Cyril Hart Arboretum at 10am, also a male Redstart nearby. (Martin Drew). A singing Tree Pipit at New Fancy View this morning. (Rich Ford).

Symonds Yat    At Yat Rock today an Osprey heading N low over the river at 2pm, three Peregrines including the resident pair, 3 or 4 Goshawks including some displaying, an adult Great Black-backed Gull overhead going W, also five Swallows, three Sand Martins and a House Martin. (Luke Phillips).

Selsley    A Tree Pipit on the Common this morning. (Roy Bircher).

Littledean    Four singing Tree Pipits at Edgehills Plantation SO667157 and 6+ Willow Warblers, today. (Rob Husbands/Nick Christian).

Cotswold Water Park    A Nightingale singing at Swillbrook Pits 46/48 today. (per Bob Philpott). This morning a Sedge Warbler singing on the Glos side of the canal by Pit 6, also a Cetti's Warbler there. At Keynes Park Pits 79/79a/89 six Little Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers, two Redshanks and a Dunlin. (Jon Mercer).

Saul Warth    A drake Garganey on the flashes viewed from the canal bank at Saul Warth until 5:45pm at least. Also a House Martin, four Swallows, 20+ Sand Martins, a Whimbrel over, three Willow Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler, a Little Egret, two Oystercatchers, seven Black-tailed Godwits, three Redshanks and two Spotted Redshanks. (Paul Masters/MK/Ben Macdonald). Also a Yellow Wagtail over. (Nick Goatman).

Frampton    A Common Tern on the Sailing Lake and a Sedge Warbler early morning. (Nick Goatman). This morning around the Sailing Lake 30+ Sand Martins, six Swallows, two Willow Warblers and two Chiffchaffs. (Bill Church).

Cleeve Hill    Seven Ring Ouzels feeding on the ground in the valley below the Heather Enclosure in the cattle pen area today. Also a Cuckoo heard below the Butterfly Conservation Reserve at 10am. (John Overfield/Ian Bryant/Mr & Mrs Andrew Crutchley).

Coombe Hill Meadows    Late morning along the canal to Grundon Hide six Chiffchaffs, six Willow Warblers and two Blackcaps, a distant Yellowhammer singing to the south and a pair of Bullfinches, a pair of Coot using the nest, formerly used by Mute Swans at the wharf, a pair of Moorhens at a nest along the canal. From the hide two pairs of Shelducks, three Mallards, a male Shoveler, a male Wigeon, a Canada Goose, ten Sand Martins and two Swallows hawking. (Keith White).

WWT Slimbridge    Two Grey Plovers this morning. (Geoff Moyser).

Foston's Ash    Over Foston's Ash 65 Golden Plovers at 3:30pm. (John Fleming).

Tirley    A male Yellow Wagtail over low to the north ,also a singing Blackcap and a Chiffchaff. (Mark Grieve).

 

Thu 9th April 2009

Hawling    Two Short-eared Owls this evening. (Phil Davis).

Saul Warth    A drake Red-breasted Merganser on the flashes viewed from the canal bank at Saul Warth from 1pm until 4pm only when it flew off high SE. Also a pair of Pintails, a Little Egret, two Water Rails, two Oystercatchers, 16 Black-tailed Godwits and a Spotted Redshank. (Andy Jayne).

WWT Slimbridge    A Sandwich Tern over South Lake at 4:50pm. A new first-winter Iceland Gull today. Also three Yellow Wagtails, a Common Sandpiper, a Sedge Warbler and a Reed Warbler and a Goshawk this morning. An Avocet from Holden Tower until 11am only. Also 30 Ringed Plovers and seven Grey Plovers at the Dumbles edge. (Geoff Moyser/James Lees, WWT/Andy Jayne).

Foston's Ash    Near Foston's Ash 24 Fieldfares on wet pasture and 18 flyover Golden Plovers at 3:15pm. (John Fleming).

Charlton Kings    At 8:45pm three Tawny Owls heard in the fields above Southfield Manor. (Steve Brown).

Walmore Common    Six Mute Swans, five Shelducks, five Teal, five Curlews, 20+ Swallows and two House Martins. (Mike Smart).

Cleeve Hill    13 Ravens flew past the Radio Masts on Cleeve Hill towards West Down, also a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker in Queens Wood, Southam. (Steve Brown).

Colesbourne    A solitary Curlew flew south over Colesbourne Park about 4 pm this afternoon. The first JG has seen there in six years. (John Grimshaw).

Gloucester    This evening a pair of Shelducks, 12 Linnets at Sudmeadow and a Swallow which flew upriver at the Lower Parting. (Gordon Avery).

 

Wed 8th April 2009

WWT Slimbridge    Two Sandwich Tern, four Common Terns and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull from Holden Tower today. (James Lees, WWT).

Cleeve Hill    Three Ring Ouzels in the fenced off heather enclosures this morning with eight Ravens displaying overhead. (Graham Watson).

Guscar Rocks/Aylburton Warth    Two Canada Geese, c26 Shelducks, 11 Teal, an adult male Peregrine, two pairs of Oystercatcher, a Ringed Plover, c50 Lapwings, a Snipe, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 190 Curlew, 23 Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a male Yellow Wagtail, seven White Wagtails, two female Wheatears and two Ravens today. (Andy Jayne).

Frampton    A Short-eared Owl at 8:45am over WWT 100-Acre from Green Lane. View only from the viewing platform or the viewing gate in Green Lane. (Frank Bryant).

 

Tue 7th April 2009

Cleeve Hill    On the road to Warden's Wood two Grey Partridges. In the woods two Willow Warblers, four Chiffchaffs. Nearby four Marsh Tits, four Nuthatches, a Treecreeper, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker. A Cuckoo near Wontley Farm. (Graham Watson). Pics by Graham.

 

 

 

Charlton Kings    A pair of Siskins still coming to garden feeders. (Graham Watson). Pic by Graham.

Newent    A Red Kite over Norman's Wood 1m S of Newent at 3:50pm. (Will Bick).

Bisley    A Swallow today. (Mark Grieve).

Wainlode    Two Swallows at the Red Lion pub at Wainlodes. (Mark Grieve).

Coombe Hill Meadows    This evening a Little Ringed Plover, nine Curlews, 27 Mute Swans, two pairs of Shelducks and c25 Sand Martins over the Long Pool. (Mike Smart).  The logbook recorded a considerable passage in the morning, with some Yellow Wagtails and White Wagtails. Also a Marsh Harrier recorded with no further details. (Colin Greenfield).

 

Mon 6th April 2009

WWT Slimbridge    A male BEARDED TIT in the small reed beds at Mid Point. The bird was constantly calling and even did several song flights, then flew up several hundred feet and headed off at 9:11am. Presumably the same bird seen from the Kingfisher Hide at 10:45am. (James Lees, WWT).

Cleeve Hill    This morning a Ring Ouzel near the Sheep Wash Pool. Also a Cuckoo calling at Warden's Wood, and three Golden Plovers over the radio masts. (Chris Stott).

Shurdington    A Red Kite this morning being mobbed by two crows flying low over the Shurdington road by the PYO fruit farm by the roundabout. (Mark Watkins).

Forest of Dean    At Viney Hill at 11am a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in large Oaks adjacent to St. Swithin's Road. At New Fancy View feeders this afternoon male and female Siskin, two Nuthatches and the usual mix of tits and Chaffinches. (John Lewis).

Gloucester    At Sudmeadow this afternoon two Red-legged Partridges, a Green Sandpiper, a female Wheatear and a pair of Linnets (the first returning birds of the year). (Gordon Avery).

 

Sun 5th April 2009

Ashleworth Ham    This morning a male Redstart, 2+ Willow Warblers, a female Blackcap, 6+ Reed Buntings, two Curlews bubbling and a Lapwing. (Mervyn Greening/Mike Smart).

Symonds Yat    At Yat Rock up to five Goshawks soaring and displaying this morning. Also an intruding immature female Peregrine, a second-year Great Black-backed Gull, four House Martins and a Sand Martin. (Luke Phillips).

Flat Farm ( sight of the proposed the NG PRI station )    A Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, two Yellowhammers, a Bullfinch, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker and 30 Fieldfares. (Mark Grieve).

 

Sat 4th April 2009

Coombe Hill Meadows    Three Shelducks, 20 Teal, two Shoveler, a Sparrowhawk, a Little Ringed Plover, a pair of Curlews bubbling, eight Fieldfares over NE and at least three Willow Warblers singing. At Wainlodes end, four displaying Lapwings, a Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, two Ravens and a Willow Warbler singing. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Ashleworth Ham    Still 55 Wigeon, 60+ Shovelers, 40+ Teal, six Pintails and a Treecreeper singing. (Mike Smart/Les Brown). Also from the hide in Meerend thicket at least 20 Mallards, three Gadwall, two Tufted Ducks, two Grey Herons, four Buzzards, two Chiffchaffs, two Lapwings, a male Reed Bunting, a Little Grebe, a Skylark over and a Kestrel. (Mark Grieve).

Fretherne/Saul Warth    Two singing Willow Warblers at Fretherne (near the water treatment works), four Whimbrels on Saul Warth between the south flash and the river also some Curlews nearby, three Garganeys (2m, 1f) on the south flash viewed from the canal bank at Saul Warth. Please do not enter the fields. (Paul Masters/Andy Chapman/Jake King/Phil Pope). Pic by Paul.

Frampton    This morning at WWT 100-Acre from Green Lane a Little Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and a Snipe on the flashes. View only from the viewing platform or the viewing gate in Green Lane. Also a Willow Warbler singing here. (Phil Pope).

Forest of Dean    At Boy’s Grave the Great Grey Shrike still at SO619111. A Treecreeper near the cycle crossing west of Brierley, at Speculation a Goshawk, a Peregrine and a Buzzard disputing air space before flying off in different directions. At Parkend a Dipper by the main road bridge and two Siskins at New Fancy feeders. (Steve Brown). Three Bramblings (1m, 2f) with the usual large flock of Chaffinches at New Fancy feeders at 6:45 pm. (John Lewis).

Symonds Yat    At Yat Rock a Brambling flew through and also a Goshawk today. (Luke Phillips).

Coates    Two Kingfishers on the canal near the Tunnel House Hotel. Also 23 Fallow Deer in fields at the back of Hailey Woods. (Felicity Cobb).

Gloucester    A Willow Warbler singing in Richards Wood (South), Alney Island LNR. (Ian Elphick).

 

Fri 3rd April 2009

Saul Warth    A drake Garganey still on North flash this morning and a single Whimbrel circled low and flew off towards the WWT 100-Acre. (Graham Watson).

 

Thu 2nd April 2009

Coombe Hill Meadows    From Grundon Hide a pair of Oystercatchers, a pair of Lapwings, a Curlew heard bubbling, two pairs of Shelducks, seven Mallards, 17 Mute Swans, two Grey Herons, two Canada Geese. Six Chiffchaffs along the canal, the pair of Coots fought off the male Mute Swan from the nest at the Wharf. The female Mute Swan was further down the canal. (Keith White).

Netheridge Farm     A pair of Kestrels, a pair Tawny Owls, a pair of Little Owls at the rear of the farm buildings and a pair of nesting Buzzards giving great aerial displays. A small flock of Meadow Pipits, c8 Reed Buntings, four pairs of Long-tailed Tits, pairs of Green Woodpeckers and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, four pairs of Song Thrushes, c5 pairs of Blackbirds, Chiffchaffs calling and a Kingfisher in flight from the Netheridge Reserve to water duct that feeds under to Secunda Way all around the Barn Owl Centre today. (Vince Jones). 

Gloucester     A Barn Owl at Westgate bridge at 5:40pm. It was in flight heading over from Westgate bridge bypass (North side) to Alney Island at a height of about 100ft with a crow harassing it. (Vince Jones). 

Forest of Dean    A singing and displaying Tree Pipit on the Farmers Green clearing this morning. (Lewis Thomson).

Cotswold Water Park    Today at Keynes Park Pit 31, a Cetti's Warbler singing. At Pits 79/79a three Little Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers, two Green Sandpipers, a Redshank and a Kingfisher. At Pit 57 two Oystercatchers. At Pits 46/48 Swillbrook two singing Blackcaps and at Pit 12 10+ Swallows and 40+ Sand Martins. (Jon Mercer).

Frampton    This morning at the Sailing Lake 20+ Swallows, 60+ Sand Martins, 2/3 House Martins, 17 Meadow Pipits, four Reed Buntings, two Kingfishers, three Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap singing (present since 29/03) also one singing near Splatt Bridge. Also a Cetti's Warbler in the Blue Pool area. (Roy Bircher).

Quedgeley    Three Little Owls and a calling Tawny Owl this evening at 8:30pm at the old RAF Quedgeley Site off Naas Lane. (Andy Chapman).

Saul Warth    A drake Garganey on the right hand flash viewed from the canal bank at Saul Warth. Please do not enter the fields. Also a Wheatear and c10 Sand Martins this evening. (Paul Masters).

 

Wed 1st April 2009

Frampton    An immature Little Gull rested briefly with Black-headed Gulls on the WWT 100-Acre around noon briefly. View only from the viewing platform or the viewing gate in Green Lane. Also a Wheatear and 1+ Swallow over and two House Martins near Frampton church. (Geoff Moyser). Also between Splatt Bridge and Green Lane today five Chiffchaffs, a Peregrine flying W between the canal and Green Lane, 40+ Lapwings, six Shelducks, seven Shovelers (4m,3f), three Little Egrets, two Curlews, a Redshank and six Long-tailed Tits. (Harold Smith).

WWT Slimbridge    A Red Kite went slowly N over the Trust at 2:30pm. (James Lees, WWT).

Cam    A Red Kite over at 3:45pm today. (Mike Youdale).

Forest of Dean    At Boy’s Grave the Great Grey Shrike still at SO619111. Also two Goshawks and Bramblings heard calling going over. (Keith Colcombe).

Berkeley shore    A Turnstone this morning. (Shane Long).

Coombe Hill Meadows    This evening a Little Egret, at least seven Shelducks, 25 Mute Swans, two Little Ringed Plovers, three Redshanks and 28 Curlews. Snipe started to fly around at dusk but no drumming. Also a Blackcap and five Chiffchaffs singing. (Mike Smart).

Ashleworth Ham    A Little Ringed Plover on the island for 30 mins at least then flew off W, a pair of Oystercatchers and a singing Chiffchaff. (Keith Colcombe).

Hawling    A pair of Curlews at Southdown Farm feeding in field at the crossroads at SP060221 today. (Phil Davis).

Awre    A female Merlin heading steadily upriver at lunchtime. (John Phillips).

Ashleworth Ham    From the hide a Curlew, a Chiffchaff, at least eight Buzzards, nine Tufted Ducks, five Gadwall, two male and one female Pintail, 20 Mallards, 43 Shovelers, 27 Wigeon, 18 Teal, a Cormorant, three Grey Herons, a Raven over being mobbed by crows and a Swallow through. (Mark Grieve).

Tirley    A singing Blackcap today. (Mark Grieve).

 

Tue 31st March 2009

Coombe Hill Meadows    A flock of 24 immature Mute Swans on a field south of the canal, 18 Canada Geese, a single Little Ringed Plover briefly, one Lapwing, two Redshanks, four Shelducks, 30 Teal, 13 Shovelers, three Pied Wagtails, a Blackcap and six Chiffchaffs singing. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Ashleworth Ham    Four Pintail, ten Tufted Ducks and a singing Blackcap. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Symonds Yat    From Yat Rock viewpoint today a Red Kite and eight Goosanders on the River Wye below. (Chris Andrews).

Forest of Dean    A Dipper behind the Fountain Inn at Parkend. Two pairs of Mandarins at Cannop ponds. Opposite Speech House Hotel at least three Hawfinches. At Boy’s Grave the Great Grey Shrike still at SO619111. At New Fancy View a female Goshawk perched and a Hawfinch. The flight call of Tree Pipit heard today at the clearing by New Fancy View. (John Harris). A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming this morning in Oak trees adjacent to Viney Hill Football Club. (John Lewis).

Quedgeley    No sign of any Little Ringed Plovers on the building site beside the new houses on the Kingsway Estate this evening but three Little Owls. (Andy & Mhairi Chapman).

Saul Warth    Two drake Garganey until midday at least on the left hand flash viewed from the canal bank at Saul Warth. Please do not enter the fields. Also nine Black-tailed Godwits and an Egyptian Goose. (John Overfield/Shane Long). No sign this evening but 50 Sand Martins, a Swallow, c100 Teal, five Pintail, two Little Egrets, two Snipe, four Black-tailed Godwits still and a Redshank. (MK/Jake King/Nick Goatman).

Fretherne    Two Ringed Plovers, two Dunlin and a male Wheatear. (John Overfield).

Frampton    On the Sailing Lake male and female Mandarin, a Kingfisher and a House Martin. On the WWT 100 Acre a Little-Ringed Plover, a Short-eared Owl, a Swallow and two Sand Martins. (John Overfield). 

WWT Slimbridge    The drake AMERICAN WIGEON still from Zeiss hide, an Egyptian Goose on South Lake and two female Wheatears on the cross fence from Holden Tower.  (John Overfield). 

Ebley    A Willow Warbler along the canal from Home Orchard today. (Rob Palmer).

Cheltenham    Late afternoon a Sparrowhawk high over Bishop's Cleeve. Early evening a Pipistrelle behind Naunton Park School in daylight. At Charlton Kings Common at 8:15pm two Tawny Owls at SO957185, also a Pipistrelle circling the same tree. (Steve Brown).

Gloucester    At Sudmeadow today two male Blackcaps singing and at least three Chiffchaffs. Also two male Reed Buntings and a Snipe remains in the marsh. (Gordon Avery).

 

Mon 30th March 2009

Quedgeley    Two Little Ringed Plovers on the building site beside the new houses on the Kingsway Estate from 7:15pm until dusk. Also two Barn Owls, a Tawny Owl and a Little Owl. (Andy & Mhairi Chapman).

Ebworth    50 Linnets near Overtown farm at 10:30am in grassy stubble, three Wheatears, 12 Goldfinches, three Buzzards and five Skylarks at 3:30pm. (John Fleming).

Ebley    A House Martin prospecting a nest site at Home Orchard today. (Rob Palmer).

Hawling    At the junction of the B4068/A436 near Hawling a large group of 200-250 Golden Plovers flying over the fields around Sherwell Hill Barn and Tithingmead Barn (SP224073). Also two Swallows flew over. (Barrie Mills).

Frampton    A Short-eared Owl at 4:30pm again viewed from canal towpath from Splatt Bridge. (Richard Newton). At least 20 Swallows, 15 Sand Martins and a House Martin on the Sailing Lake this morning. (Shane Long).

WWT Slimbridge    The drake AMERICAN WIGEON still from Lathbury hide with 12 Eurasian Wigeon. Also three Swallows, two Kingfishers displaying at Kingfisher hide and two Little Egrets. (Richard Newton). Two Little Ringed Plovers in front of Zeiss hide. (Dave Evans). A Willow Warbler, a Wheatear and a White Wagtail from the Holden Tower this morning. (Martin McGill, WWT). Pic by Richard.

Eastington    A Willow Warbler at Millend this morning. (Jake King).

Ashleworth Ham    From Meerend thicket, a Swallow flew N, a Chiffchaff, male and female Pintail, 35+ Shovelers, 70+ Wigeon, ten Tufted Ducks, five Teal, a Curlew heard, a Little Egret and a Buzzard this evening. (Mark Grieve).

 

Sun 29th March 2009

Forest of Dean    Three Hawfinches and two Greenfinches in Speech House paddocks area (opposite side of the road). At Boy's Grave the Great Grey Shrike still, two Goshawks, two Bramblings (m, f), two Siskins (m, f), six Lesser Redpolls, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Raven at SO619111. At Parkend downstream from the Fountain Inn two Grey Wagtails, two Mandarins (m, f), a Treecreeper, a Green Woodpecker and a Dipper. At Woorgreens 13 Goosanders (2m,11f), two Tufted Ducks (m, f), a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Great Black-backed Gull. (Lee Rogers/Alan Baxter/Nick Hopkinson).

Winchcombe    A pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers at the play area of Sudeley Castle from 7:55am. Also Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard, a Mistle Thrush and a Grey Wagtail by the pool. (Mark Moore/Richard Tyler). Pics by Richard.

 

 

WWT Slimbridge    From the Holden Tower early morning an Egyptian Goose flew on to the pool in front of the hide, the drake AMERICAN WIGEON showing with Eurasian Wigeon in front of the Lathbury hide and a Coal Tit in the blackthorn in front of the hide. (Jake King). Also a Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff in same bush along South Finger path and a Reed Bunting in the reed bed to the right of the Kingfisher Hide. (Ray Sherman).

Eastington    At Millend, four Swallows and nine Buzzards circling, later a probable Osprey gliding high SW. (Jake King).

Witcombe Reservoir    A pair of Swallows, a pair of Grey Wagtails and at least nine Great Crested Grebes. (Mark Moore).

Tirley    A singing Chiffchaff today. (Mark Grieve).

Ashleworth Ham    From the hide at Meerend thicket, two singing Chiffchaffs, three Curlews, 50+ Black-headed Gulls, 10+ Common Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 40+ Wigeon, ten Shovelers, 20 Teal, a Peregrine, four Buzzards, four Lapwings, a Grey Heron, a female Pintail, 15 Tufted Ducks, a male Gadwall and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Mark Grieve). 

Cleeve Hill    Two Wheatears at the heather enclosures and several singing Linnets.  Between Postlip and Corndean a Little Egret flew into a tree in Postlip Warren and two Roe Deer. (Steve Brown).

Woodmancote    At least four singing Chiffchaffs this morning at various points between Woodmancote and Gotherington and a pair of early Swallows at Longwood Farm near Woodmancote. (John Widgery).

Charlton Abbots    At West Wood House a vocal Raven, a Stock Dove and four Linnets. (Steve Brown).
Cheltenham    A female garden Blackcap still at Naunton Park. (Steve Brown).

Frampton    A Swallow N over Court Lake early morning and two Oystercatchers over the Sailing Lake flying towards the Gravel Wash. Also six Fieldfares, 69 Tufted Ducks on Court Lake and 35 on the Sailing Lake and a single drake Pochard on Court Lake. Ten Black-tailed Godwits on the flash from Splatt Bridge. (MK).

Saul Warth    Nine Black-tailed Godwits (maybe the Frampton birds), five Redshanks, a Little Egret and two Swallows. (MK).

Standish    Two Swallows this morning. (Juliet Bailey).

WWT Slimbridge    Belated news of an intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Trust on 9th March. (Jeremy Squire). Pic by Jeremy.

Sat 28th March 2009

Frampton    A Short-eared Owl at 4:30pm close to edge of estuary and viewed from canal towpath just south of Splatt Bridge. (Clive Mowforth). Nine Swallows and four Sand Martins on the Sailing Lake this afternoon. Nearby in Saul village two Swallows and four Sand Martins. (Nick Goatman/Neil Smart). 

WWT Slimbridge    The CATTLE EGRET from Zeiss hide briefly this morning until 9:50am when it flew off high and fast S towards Purton. (Neil Smart/Richard Tyler). A first-summer Glaucous Gull on the Dumbles early morning, the fifth different bird to be seen at the Trust this winter. (James Lees, WWT). Pics by Richard.

 

Kingscote    120+ Golden Plovers and five Brown Hares in a field near Kingscote today. Also in a nearby field five Wheatears (4m) ,84 Fieldfares, 11 Pied Wagtails, a White Wagtail and a Buzzard. (Neil Smart). Pic by Neil.

Gloucester    Two Little Egrets on the flash north of the Council Car Park at Castle Meads again this morning at 10am. Best viewed from the pedestrian causeway between the Lock Cottage and the car park. There were four there at 2:30pm. (MK/Lee Rogers). A minimum of 35 Ravens on the sheep downs at GLS this morning. (Gordon Avery).

Minsterworth    On Minsterworth Ham ten Shelducks accompanied by the Australian type hybrid male that has been in the County for months. (Gordon Avery).

Coombe Hill Meadows    At least three pairs of prospecting Shelducks, two Little Ringed Plovers probably passing migrants, three Lapwings displaying, at least four pairs of Mute Swans holding territory between the Wharf and Wainlodes. 12 Teal and nine Shovelers on Long Pool, four Snipe, ten Chiffchaffs singing and a Peregrine. (Mike Smart/Les Brown/John Wiltshire ).

Ashleworth Ham    A steady northward trickle of Sand Martins, with two House Martins and a couple of Swallows. (Mike Smart/Les Brown/John Wiltshire).

 

Fri 27th March 2009

Brockworth    A male Ring Ouzel S of Brockworth in a horse field at Cooper's Hill this afternoon. (Rare Bird Alert).

Stonehouse    Seven Waxwings flew over the A419 at 1:08pm at SO805050. (Rare Bird Alert).

Forest of Dean    A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in a Whitebeam tree in a garden at 4pm at Viney Hill. (John & Tim Lewis). The Great Grey Shrike still showing well at Boy's Grave at SO619111. A pair of Dippers behind the Fountain Inn in Parkend this morning. A female Brambling still at the New Fancy View feeders along with Siskins, Chaffinches etc. Also Siskins at the Cannop pond feeders with one Marsh Tit, two Reed Buntings, one Jay and a variety of other tits etc. Also a pair of Mandarins and a pair of Goldcrests at Nagshead. (Allan Chard). Pics by Allan.

 

 

 

 

Cotswold Water Park (W)  This morning at Keynes Park Pit 31, a singing Cetti's Warbler. At Pits 79/79a two Shelducks, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, a Swallow over N, 20 Wigeon, 15 Teal and a Blackcap singing by the gateway at Pit 13.

Cam    A Swallow flying easterly along Woodfield Road in Cam at 6:25am this morning. (Ray Sherman).

Gloucester    Five Little Egrets on the flash north of the Council Car Park at Castle Meads again this morning from 9:20am at least. Best viewed from the pedestrian causeway between the Lock Cottage and the car park. Also present yesterday from 10am-3pm. (Les Warriner/Gordon Avery/John Sanders). A Sparrowhawk took a pigeon at St James city farm in Tredworth today at 12:20pm and remained on its prey for nearly an hour. (Richard Lawrence). Pic by Richard.

Frampton    Three Swallows, a House Martin and six Sand Martins, eight Chiffchaffs and seven Reed Buntings together, at least five males. (Roy Bircher/Martin McGill, WWT). c14 Little Egrets roosted tonight at Court Lake but no sign of the Cattle Egret. (Andy Chapman/Paul Masters/Jake King/Neil Smart/MK). 

Eastington    At Millend at 2:10pm today four Swallows and a Sand Martin. (Dave Evans).

 

Thu 26th March 2009

Frampton Mansell    A Swallow at lunchtime today. (David Owen).

Frampton    The CATTLE EGRET roosted at Court Lake at 6pm with 11 Little Egrets. The birds have usually left the roost prior to 7am. Please keep to public footpaths and park sensibly in the village. Also 12 Sand Martins on the Sailing Lake this morning only. (Nick Goatman).

WWT Slimbridge    The CATTLE EGRET again on South Lake at 4pm. Also today the drake AMERICAN WIGEON still on the Bottom New Piece and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose from Holden Tower and a juvenile Iceland Gull on the river. (James Lees, Martin McGill, WWT).

Forest of Dean    At Milkwall 13 Siskins and three Lesser Redpolls at feeders. Also a Bullfinch, a Chaffinch and a Wren singing, and female Sparrowhawk took a Blackbird. (Ivan Proctor).

 

Wed 25th March 2009

Newnham-on-Severn    An adult breeding plumaged Ring-billed Gull this evening. Also an adult and a first-year Mediterranean Gull. (John Phillips).

Forest of Dean    A Goshawk over the clearfell at Boy's Grave and a Peregrine from Pan Tod Beacon. Two Woodcocks were flushed by dog-walkers on the western slopes of May Hill. A Hawfinch was with a mixed finch flock in the car park of The Yew Tree at Clifford's Mesne. (Martin Drew).

WWT Slimbridge    A CATTLE EGRET again from Hogarth hide from 9am until 11:20am when it flew off over South Lake and off NW. Also today the drake AMERICAN WIGEON still on the Top New Piece and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose from Holden Tower. (James Lees, Martin McGill, WWT/Geoff Moyser/Graham Watson). Pic by Martin

More pics by Graham. 

 

Frampton    A drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL at 11:30am today with 30 Eurasian Teal on the WWT 100-Acre from the viewing platform. View only from the viewing platform or the viewing gate in Green Lane. (Martin McGill, WWT). Pics by Martin

 

Gloucester    At least five Little Egrets on the flash north of the City Council car park on Castle Meads at 3pm today until 4pm at least. (City side of the South West Bypass). (Les Warriner).

 

Tue 24th March 2009

WWT Slimbridge    The drake AMERICAN WIGEON and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose from Holden Tower today and a first-winter Iceland Gull on the estuary. (James Lees, Martin McGill, WWT). 

Apperley Hall Farm    A Swallow today. (Mark Grieve).

Ashleworth Ham    Along the canal five Chiffchaffs, three Jays, a Bullfinch, two Stock Doves and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. From the hide six Pied Wagtails, four Shelducks, a Buzzard and a Raven over. From the Long Pool 12 Teal, two Chiffchaffs, 20+ Meadow Pipits, a Curlew, 25 Shovelers and a Shelduck. (Mark Grieve). Also 60 Wigeon, 30 Teal, ten Gadwall, 20 Shovelers, ten Tufted Ducks, 25 Coot, 45 Snipe and two Jack Snipe. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Coombe Hill Meadows    A Peregrine, adult or near adult, on the ground outside the Grundon Hide consuming prey probably a Mallard. Also two Brown Hares, a Little Egret, two pairs of Shelducks, 30 Teal, ten Shovelers, eight Snipe, two Curlews and seven Chiffchaffs. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Cobney Meadows    A pair of Shelducks, two Curlews and two Chiffchaffs. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Witcombe Reservoir    An adult sinensis Cormorant this morning. (Gordon Avery).

Forest of Dean    At Cannop Slate Factory feeder area a Siskin, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Pied Wagtail and a pair of Mandarins on the lake. At Cannop North Pond more Mandarins and a Cormorant in breeding plumage. At New Fancy View three Siskins, a Brambling and two Green Woodpeckers. (Alan Richards). Pic by Alan.

Winchcombe    A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at 6:50am by a tree just outside the Play area (where the sheep are) at Sudeley Castle grounds. Calling and then drumming before flying to trees by the stream on southern side of walkway between play area and ponds remaining there for ten minutes. Plenty of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Green Woodpeckers together and at least two Redwings. (Robert Daw). Pics by Robert.

 

 

Mon 23rd March 2009

WWT Slimbridge    A CATTLE EGRET was on South Lake marsh today at 2pm. (Gavin Black). The male AMERICAN WIGEON still from Holden Tower today and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose on the Tack Piece. (James Lees/Martin McGill, WWT). 

Winchcombe    A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker again around the play area at 7am at Sudeley Castle. (Shane Long).

Cotswold Water Park (W)    A Little Ringed Plover and three Green Sandpipers at Pits 79/79a this morning. (Shane Long).

Severn Hams    At Ashleworth Ham a Red Kite over Stank Lane at 11:20am low over the reserve then flew towards Haw Bridge. Also two Stock Doves, two Snipe, three Meadow Pipits, five Reed Buntings, two Lapwings, a Treecreeper and 106 Fieldfares. At Hasfield Ham two Buzzards, two Shelducks, five Meadow Pipits and three Reed Buntings. From the hide at Meerend thicket 15 Fieldfares, a singing Chiffchaff, 70+ Wigeon, ten Sand Martins over the reserve at 9:50am, 12 Tufted Ducks, 40+ Teal, 20+ Shovelers, three Gadwall, a Curlew, two Lapwings, a Cormorant, a Jay, a Reed Bunting, a Redwing, two Pied Wagtails and three Skylarks. (Mark Grieve).

Saul    A Cetti's Warbler singing in the reeds growing in the canal next to Saul Warth at 10am. (Gavin Black). 

Cleeve Hill    A white phase Gyr Falcon (with jesses ) from Cleeve Hill this morning at midday?. Good views as it powered across waist high into the gale, past the radio masts towards Prestbury. (Mervyn & V Broughton).

 

Sun 22nd March 2009

Slad    A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker this morning at Snows Farm reserve, Slad Valley, in alders on the Dillay Brook at SO897084. (Gordon Kirk).

Cerney Wick    An Osprey circling low over Cerney Wick at 6:25pm, seen from the A419. (Andy & Mhairi Chapman).

Berkeley Heath    A Red Kite over E at 2:15pm. (Paul Taylor).

Naunton    A Red Kite hunting successfully today at Naunton. (Jim Milton).

Cleeve Hill    A Red Kite at 9:30am over Cleeve Common and then heading over towards the racecourse, 12 Ravens in the air together and two Wheatears by the radio masts. (Mike Teesdale).

Frampton    A Firecrest briefly at 8am in blackthorn at the rear of Court Lake but no further sign. (Nick Goatman). Also here 16 Meadow Pipits, four Lesser Redpolls and four Siskins. (Jake King/John Overfield). North of Splatt Bridge two Cetti's Warblers singing, three Little Egrets and a Green Woodpecker. Between Splatt Bridge and Green Lane three singing Blackcaps and five Chiffchaffs. (MK). At the WWT 100-Acre viewed from Green Lane a Little Egret, six Redshanks and five Curlews and a Brimstone in Green Lane. (Keith White).

Winchcombe    A pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers again around the play area at 7:15am at Sudeley Castle before they headed off to downstream alders. Also a pair of Mandarins, a Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.  (Jake King/John Overfield). 

WWT Slimbridge    From the Holden Tower at WWT at 9am a Merlin with prey over the Tack Piece mobbed by a Lapwing, the AMERICAN WIGEON with a small group of Eurasian Wigeon on the Tack Piece below the hide and a Dark-bellied Brent Goose flew in with feral Barnacle Geese to the pool in front of the Tower. Also here six Oystercatchers. (Jake King/John Overfield). 

Forest of Dean    The Great Grey Shrike still at Boy's Grave today at SO619111, also six Lesser Redpolls, two Siskins and a singing Chiffchaff. Three Goshawks from New Fancy View, also four Siskins, two Bramblings and a Hawfinch around the feeders. (Paul Masters). 

Leighterton    A Corn Bunting along a lane 1/4 mile east of the cemetery, singing and feeding with a Brambling. (Geoff Moyser).

Kingscote    Two Red-legged Partridges by Bowldown farm buildings. (Geoff Moyser). 

Cambridge    A Grey Wagtail on telegraph wires above the carriageway of the A38 at the top of Ryall's Lane this afternoon. (Mark Moore).

 

Sat 21st March 2009

Quedgeley    At least three Hawfinches still this morning in trees around the edge of Dimore playing field off of School Lane to the rear of Goss Wood Corner; also two singing Chiffchaffs and a singing Blackcap since 17th. (Paul Masters). 

Newnham-on-Severn    A Swallow flew upriver today. (David Eaton - Glos RSPB Group per AJ).

Forest of Dean    The Great Grey Shrike still at Boy's Grave today at SO619111. A male Goshawk over Cannop ponds being mobbed by crows and a Woodcock at Woorgreens (Richard Tyler). Also at Boy's Grave a Crossbill and nearby three Bramblings on the feeders at New Fancy View. (Martin McGill, WWT). Pics of Mandarins, Siskin and Song Thrush by Richard.

 

 

 

 

Coombe Hill Meadows    This morning two Little Egrets, 40 Teal, 12 Shovelers, a Curlew, six Snipe, four Black-tailed Godwits resting in Long Pool, then flew off high, 5-6 singing Chiffchaffs and two Pied Wagtails. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Ashleworth Ham    80 Wigeon, 20 Shovelers, only two Pintail, 15 Tufted Ducks, three Snipe and a singing Chiffchaff. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still showing well at midday in the setaside field at Cirencester, opposite Tesco's at SP037009. (Jon Mercer). Pic by John.

WWT Slimbridge    A CATTLE EGRET on the Top New Piece this morning but it flew off and was not relocated. Not at Frampton or Saul. Also the first-winter drake AMERICAN WIGEON still today. (Dave Paynter).

Winchcombe    Male and female Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Sudeley Castle grounds by the gate lodge at 9am. Also a singing male Blackcap, three Chiffchaffs, six Great Spotted Woodpeckers and two Green Woodpeckers heard. (MK).

Lineover Woods (near Cheltenham)    Six Hawfinches sat together for half an hour at the top of a tree this afternoon. (Dave Pearce).

Cleeve Hill    A Wheatear near the trig point to the right of the radio masts car park late morning. Also a Chiffchaff. (MK).

Tirley    A singing Chiffchaff this morning. (Mark Grieve). 

Tewkesbury    A singing Chiffchaff near Waitrose this morning. (Mark Grieve).

Charlton Kings    This morning three Linnets on Charlton Kings Common. (Steve Brown).

 

Fri 20th March 2009

Gorsley    A House Martin with two Sand Martins at 10am. (Robin Husbands).

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still at midday in the setaside field at Cirencester, opposite Tesco's at SP037009. (Jon Mercer).

Woodmancote    A Lesser Redpoll with a male MEALY REDPOLL and four Siskins on garden Niger feeders this morning for c30 mins 8am-8:30am. (John Widgery).

Winchcombe    A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling and wing shivering in Sudeley Castle grounds by the play area early this morning. (Steve Owen).

Fretherne/Saul Warth    Early morning a first-winter Iceland Gull distant on the mud, three Sand Martins through north, four Oystercatchers, eight Wigeon, 20+ Pintails, 4+ Chiffchaffs and 10+ Siskins west. Also in the garden nearby a Reed Bunting, up to four Blackcaps and a Brambling. (Gordon Hodgson).

Cotswold Water Park (W)    This morning in Keynes Park area a Cetti's Warbler singing at Pit 31. At Pit 79/79a three Little Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers, two Redshanks, two Green Sandpipers, a Snipe, a Kingfisher, two Little Egrets, 60 Wigeon, seven Sand Martins and a Green Woodpecker calling. (Jon Mercer).

Nailsworth   This morning a Red Kite over Nailsworth heading east. Also a Chiffchaff from Tue 17th onwards. (Dave Watson).

Priding    Late afternoon a Wheatear on the riverbank near Priding. (Steve Brown).

Forest of Dean    10+ Siskins and 3+ Bramblings at the New Fancy View feeders and a hunting Sparrowhawk made three visits this afternoon. (Allan Chard). At Lydbrook seven garden Bramblings and a singing Chiffchaff today. (Lewis Thomson). 

WWT Slimbridge    A Little Egret and two Kingfishers at South Finger today. (Clive Mowforth). Pics by Clive.

 

Gloucester    This morning at Alney Island, a female Sparrowhawk again near the Castlemeads car park, a Green Woodpecker and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers near Lower Parting, a Little Grebe on Over Pond and a Chiffchaff and a Reed Bunting singing nearby. (Steve Brown).

Tuffley    Up to four garden Lesser Redpolls again today. A maximum of 12 were seen staying until the first week of April. (Greg Anderson). Pics by Greg.

 

Thu 19th March 2009

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still at 3:30pm in the setaside field at Cirencester, opposite Tesco's at SP037009. (Trevor Dobie).

Coombe Hill Meadows    This evening three Little Egrets, stayed to roost in the withies round the Long Pool, two pairs of Shelducks, one Lapwing, nine Curlews coming into roost in ones and twos, two Chiffchaffs singing along the canal, seven Pied Wagtails with a male Reed Bunting and 61 Carrion Crows gathering to roost. (Mike Smart).

Priding    An adult Iceland Gull at Priding and nearby a second-winter Mediterranean Gull at Epney this evening. (John Sanders).

Stinchcombe Hill    A Woodcock in Sheepath Wood, 11 Wheatears together by Stinchcombe Hill House and at 4:30pm and a Red Kite passed over heading NE. (Terry Fenton).

Forest of Dean    The Great Grey Shrike again at Boys Grave at SO619111 this morning. c8 Siskins and two Bramblings this morning at New Fancy View. (Richard Tyler). Pics by Richard.

 

 

 

A Red Kite drifted over southwards at 3:20pm this afternoon at the Dick Whittington Farm Park at Longhope. (Rob Crofton). At Woorgreens Lake 35 Goosanders, a pair of Wigeon (unusual here), a pair Mandarins, five Greylags and three Snipe. At Three Islands Lake nine Greylags SO625115. At the Cyril Hart Log Feeder two Stock Doves, two Ravens and Great Spotted Woodpecker. At Mallards Pike two Greylags and a pair of Mandarins. At Cannop Pond North five pairs of Mandarins and three Little Grebes and at Cannop Ponds South six pairs of Mandarins and ten Greylags. (Bob Broughton). A female Goshawk flew from the ground in Serridge Inclosure and perched in a tree. (Steve Brown).

Frampton    A Red Kite flying N by the canal at Splatt Bridge at 3:05pm and a Lesser Redpoll nearby at Nebrow Hill. (Geoff Moyser). A Kingfisher this evening flying along the side of the canal very close to Splatt Bridge. (Clive Mowforth).

Cheltenham    Two Peregrines (no doubt the Eagle Tower birds) calling from Christchurch this morning. (Dave Pearce).

 

Charlton Kings    Two Stock Doves (one singing) in a back garden in Charlton Park Gate observed from the 'Chicken Run'. Also a Field Vole on the path and Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch nearby. (Steve Brown).

Longford    A pair of Buzzards were dog fighting this afternoon over Longford bypass and Plock Court. (Rob Wilkinson).

Tuffley    Up to four garden Lesser Redpolls today and a single on the 17th at Forest View Road. A garden first. (Greg Anderson). Pics by Greg.

 

Wed 18th March 2009

Symonds Yat    The Peregrine pair seen mating today at Yat Rock. (Phil Andrews). Pic by Phil.

Lydney    Four Wheatears at Lydney New Grounds today. (John & Viv Phillips). Newnham-on-Severn    Four Mediterranean Gulls, three adults and one first-year, in the evening. (John & Viv Phillips).

Frampton    On the WWT 100-Acre at Frampton three Spotted Redshanks and an Egyptian Goose. View only from the viewing platform or the viewing gate in Green Lane. Nearby a Short-eared Owl 7-7:15am between the sea wall the reedbed N of Splatt Bridge viewed from the gate. (John Overfield).

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still present today in the setaside field at Cirencester, opposite Tesco's this morning at SP037009. (Shirley & Tony Hawkins).

WWT Slimbridge    Today the first-winter drake AMERICAN WIGEON still from Zeiss hide. Also a Greenshank and eight Little Egrets. (James Lees/Martin McGill, WWT). Please note the following closures WWT Closures.

Cheltenham    A Red Kite wheeling over Montpellier Gardens this afternoon. (Chris Furley). A singing Chiffchaff in Hester's Way Park, Princess Elizabeth Way, this morning. (Keith White).

Forest of Dean    The Great Grey Shrike still at Boy's Grave this morning. Also two Hawfinches showing well at the paddocks opposite Speech House and a Chiffchaff singing at the New Fancy car park. (Martin Drew). A female Wheatear and small flock of 10/12 Meadow Pipits at Bracelands, behind the campsite today. (Sue Brooks).

Ebworth    Several Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Red-legged Partridges, four Brown Hares and at least seven Buzzards over the Over Town fields and the Workman's Woods area today and a calling Yellowhammer from Foston's Bank at the top of main drive. (Rob Palmer).

Hardwicke    A garden female Lesser Redpoll today. (Steve Dark).

Chedworth    A Chiffchaff singing  today. Also up to seven garden Siskins still. (Gill Tovey).

Tue 17th March 2009 

Frampton    On the WWT 100-Acre at Frampton a Little Stint, four Spotted Redshanks, a Golden Plover and seven Snipe. View only from the viewing platform or the viewing gate in Green Lane. Nearby a hybrid Lanner/Peregrine with jesses over Frampton village. (John Overfield).

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still present today in the setaside field at Cirencester, opposite Tesco's late afternoon at SP037009. (Richard Tyler). Pic by Richard.

Cotswold Water Park (W)    A summer-plumaged Mediterranean Gull at Pit 12 this evening. (Richard Tyler). Pic by Richard.     

Priding    A Yellow-legged Gull this morning. (Shane Long). A Glaucous Gull on the river from 5:30-6:15pm this evening. (Graham Watson/ Dave Pearce). Pic by Graham.

WWT Slimbridge    Today the first-winter drake AMERICAN WIGEON still from Zeiss hide. Also a first-winter Glaucous Gull again. On the WWT 100-Acre at Frampton a Greenshank, the first of the year. View only from the viewing platform or the viewing gate in Green Lane. (Martin McGill, WWT). Please note the following closures WWT Closures.

Cotswolds    Five Little Egrets on the River Coln flood plain between Coln St Aldwyn's and Bibury today (SP129055). Also a Barn Owl, a Raven and a Goldcrest nearby. En route to Coln St Aldwyn's, 250-300 Common Gulls in a ploughed field at the junction of the Andoversford-Bourton/Brockhampton-Salperton roads (SP060211). Also a Black Swan on the river in Bibury. (Phil Davis). 

Cam    A garden Dipper and Kingfisher today. The Dipper for a second day, it should be viewable on the stream by the Railway Inn. Also two Canada Geese over, two Grey Wagtails and a singing Chiffchaff. Nearby two singing Chiffchaffs, a Raven and seven Tufted Ducks at Cam Long Down. (James Lees, WWT).

Coombe Hill Meadows    Five Shelducks, 54 Teal, three Little Egrets, a Little Ringed Plover and two Lapwings today. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Cobney Meadows (Wainlodes end of Canal)    Two bubbling Curlews and a Green Sandpiper heard. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Ashleworth Ham    Four Whooper Swans roosting on the water, flew out to graze on the field by Stank Lane at 6:25am. 167 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 61 Shovelers, two Pintails, 22 Tufted Ducks, a Pochard, a Curlew, 64 Snipe, seven Jack Snipe, a Little Grebe, at least five Chiffchaffs and lots of Reed Buntings. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Cleeve Hill    Two Wheatears this morning at 11:15am, in the field in front of the Radio Masts car park. (Rob Crofton).

Fretherne    A Wheatear this morning. (Shane Long).

Cheltenham    A pair of Peregrines on and around Eagle Tower again today. The birds favour the Tower's upper floor (base of the windows) and most frequently on the north and west faces. Also a Sparrowhawk over Montpellier Gardens. (Chris Furley).

Sapperton Valley    A Dipper, a Chiffchaff, a Buzzard, a Raven, a Little Grebe, a Nuthatch, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker today. (Peter Cadogan).

Gloucester    Three singing Chiffchaffs along the canal towpath between Sims and Rea bridges. Also a singing Chiffchaff at Daniel's Brook, Tuffley. (Mark Hobson).

Stonehouse    A singing Chiffchaff in the grounds of SKF today. (MK).

 

Mon 16th March 2009 

Coombe Hill Meadows    Two Little Egrets, four Mute Swans, a Lapwing, two Canada Geese, two Shelducks, two Curlews and a Grey Heron. (Darran Davis). Pic by Darran.

WWT Slimbridge    Today the first-winter drake AMERICAN WIGEON still, a Glaucous Gull, a Merlin and a Goshawk. On the WWT 100-Acre at Frampton an Otter. View only from the viewing platform or the viewing gate in Green Lane. (Martin McGill, WWT). Please note the following closures WWT Closures.

Berkeley shore    A White Wagtail, seven Pied Wagtails, a Sand Martin, three Chiffchaffs, 30 Meadow Pipits, three Oystercatchers, two Reed Buntings and a Common Sandpiper (likely to be the wintering bird). Nearby a Ringed Plover at Purton. (Shane Long).

Cutsdean    A Red Kite drifted over at midday heading south. (Dave Pearce).

Gloucester    This morning at Sudmeadow marsh four Teal, nine Snipe, a Barn Owl and at least two Chiffchaffs. A Red Kite floated over towards Minsterworth Ham at 1:55pm, a new species for the area. (Gordon Avery).

Great Barrington    12 Golden Plovers, six Lapwings displaying and at least 15 Brown Hares today. (Graham Watson).

Great Rissington    A Barn Owl and a Tawny Owl today. (Graham Watson).

Ebworth    At 10:30am 40 Common Gulls circling over Foston's Ash, three Buzzards circling overhead near Overtown farm and three Wheatears on a harrowed ploughfield at 4pm. (John Fleming).

Forest of Dean    At least two roding Woodcocks from 6:30pm around the Cannop Valley this evening. (Lewis Thomson). A Hawfinch showing briefly at New Fancy View this morning. Also at least 12 Siskins and four Bramblings (2m, 2f). Distant views of a Goshawk from the viewpoint. The Great Grey Shrike again at Boys Grave at SO619111 this morning. At Woorgreens 26 Goosanders (6m, 20 f) and ten Mandarins, nine males chasing one female. (Allan Chard/David Plant). Pics by Allan. Also a Coal Tit inside the feeder at NFV. Pic by David.

 

 

 

 

Sun 15th March 2009

Ebley    A Water Rail in bulrushes, phragmites and iris this afternoon at 1:30pm at SO823046. Also two singing Chiffchaffs and a pair of Blackcaps along the canal. (Rob Palmer).

Frampton    The Long-eared Owl still roosting in the ivy-covered tree to the right of the white container at the back of the small reedbed S of Splatt Bridge, viewed from the canal towpath at 2pm. (Joe Ray). Also a second Long-eared Owl exposed in the branches of a hawthorn, on the opposite (East) side of the canal. (John Grimshaw). Pic by John.

Ashleworth Ham     A female/immature Merlin early afternoon. (Andy Jayne/Lawrence Skipp).

Forest of Dean    From New Fancy View yesterday, at least three Goshawks mid-morning and two Goosanders seen flying in the distance. Also an Adder basking just off the path leading up to the viewpoint. A Wheatear in the field opposite the paddock area around Speech House. (Alex Carlisle). Pics by Alex.

 

Driffield    A Grey Partridge and two pairs of Red-legged Partridges today. (Graham Cox). Pic by Graham.

Cotswold Water Park (W)    A second-summer Mediterranean Gull with an almost complete hood in the pre-roost on Pit 12 5:30-5:45pm at least, with Black-headed and Common Gulls. Also an Oystercatcher over. (Jon Mercer).

Cleeve Hill     A Red Kite drifting south at 4:15pm by the heather enclosures. (Ian Lavell). A pair of Ravens near the trig point, a pair of Buzzards soaring to the north and a Kestrel perched near the grazed enclosure this morning. (Keith White).

Sudeley    This morning a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in the streamside Alders S of Sudeley Castle, SP030272. Also Siskins and Lesser Redpolls here. (Gordon Kirk/NCOS Group).

Aylburton Warth/Guscar Rocks    Two male Wheatears on Aylburton Warth this morning and a flock of 100+ alba Wagtails containing at least two White Wagtails. Also 265 Curlews, 122 Lapwings, 79 Golden Plovers, 41 Snipe, 36 Redshanks, 22 Dunlin, four Oystercatchers, three Ringed Plovers, 110 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 22 Shelducks, 40+ Meadow Pipits (two performing song flights), 30+ Skylarks, four Reed Buntings, two Chiffchaffs (one in song), a pair of Long-tailed Tits collecting nesting material, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, three Brown Hares and a Comma butterfly. (Lewis Thomson).

Painswick Beacon    This morning between dawn and mid-morning, overhead passage included 140+ Meadow Pipits, 63 Woodpigeons, ten Chaffinches, ten Sand Martins, nine alba Wagtails, nine Redwings, six Siskins, three Stock Doves, three Linnets, three Goldfinches, two Skylarks, two Yellowhammers, a Greenfinch and a Grey Heron. Also the first Blackcap of the year down Oliver's Drive. (Francis Steuck).

WWT Slimbridge    A Glaucous Gull from Holden Tower this morning. (James Lees/Martin McGill, WWT). Also from the Holden Tower six Buzzards circling high above Purton point at 11:45am today. At 1:50pm four Little Egrets from the Kingfisher Hide, but after a few minutes they flew off towards the river. (Ray & Julie Sherman).

Forest of Dean    The Great Grey Shrike again at Boys Grave at SO619111 this morning. (Rare Bird Alert). Film here by Ian Lavell.

Quedgeley    At least four Hawfinches still this morning in trees around the edge of Dimore playing field off of School Lane to the rear Goss Wood Corner. (Paul Masters). Nearby a Chiffchaff at Clearwater Drive. (Geoff Moyser).

Sharpness    A Peregrine this morning killed a Black-headed Gull, a pair of Oystercatchers on the pier, a Little Egret from SARA and a Great Crested Grebe in the basin. (MK).

Stanley Pontlarge    Four Curlews today, also 50+ Fieldfares and a Little Owl. (Roger & Sheila Wasley).

Lydbrook    A Chiffchaff and a Blackcap singing at Forge Hill. (Chris Sullivan).

 

Sat 14th March 2009 

Cam    A garden Dipper today. (James Lees, WWT).

Forest of Dean    The Great Grey Shrike again at Boys Grave at SO619111 this morning. Five Hawfinches in the paddocks by Speech House and at Woorgreens a  Willow Tit. (Andy Lodge).

Guscar Rocks    A Swallow today. At Wibdon Warth to Guscar, 500 Curlews, 88 Wigeon, 51 Teal, 18 Shelducks, 34 Common Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Redshanks, two Oystercatchers, two Ravens and a Reed Bunting. (Gavin Black & Ken Eames).

Fretherne    61 Dark-bellied Brent Geese off of the sluice from 9:15am until midday at least. Also here at the flashes 21 Sand Martins, a Chiffchaff calling, two Curlews, three Redshanks and five pairs of Pintail. (MK). Later 50+ Sand Martins through, 1+ House Martin briefly before heading high NW.  Two Kittiwakes flew up river. (Graham Watson/Tony Eveleigh/Lawrence Skipp). Late afternoon the Brents were in slack water near Purton on the Forest side of the river. (Paul Taylor). Pics by Graham. 

 

Frampton    S of Splatt Bridge, the Long-eared Owl roosting in the ivy-covered tree at back of the small reedbed. Also two singing Chiffchaffs and a Cetti's Warbler and two Little Egrets. 2/3 Chiffchaffs around the edges of the flashes N of Splatt Bridge this morning. (Graham Watson/Tony Eveleigh/Lawrence Skipp). 

Quedgeley    Up to six Hawfinches early morning in trees around the edge of Dimore playing field off of School Lane to the rear Goss Wood Corner. At least four still present at midday. Also here three Sand Martins and a Chiffchaff. (Paul Masters/Mark Hobson/MK). 

WWT Slimbridge    17 Black-tailed Godwits from Zeiss hide, also a Little Egret. On South Lake three Black-tailed Godwits, four Oystercatchers, a Kingfisher and a Little Egret. Three Kingfishers from Kingfisher hide and a Chiffchaff singing. (Jon Mercer). Pic by Jon.

Fri 13th March 2009 

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still present today in the setaside field at Cirencester, opposite Tesco's at 12:45pm at SP037009. (Robin Nelson). 

Priding    A partially hooded adult Mediterranean Gull (green ring on left leg) from 5:30-5:50pm today. (John Overfield/Paul Masters).

WWT Slimbridge    A Mediterranean Gull on South Lake today. (James Lees, WWT).

Rendcomb    30+ Pied Wagtails with at least two White Wagtails, Yellowhammers and Starlings feeding in a newly ploughed field late this afternoon. (Graham Watson).

Lydney    Two male Blackcaps on fat balls in a garden at Templeway West this afternoon. (Ron Beddis).

 

Thu 12th March 2009 

Woodchester    A Woodcock flew over at 6:45pm. (Rob Palmer/Gordon Kirk).

WWT Slimbridge    The first-winter drake AMERICAN WIGEON again today and showing well from Zeiss hide. (James Lees/Martin McGill, WWT).

Forest of Dean    The Great Grey Shrike still present at Boys Grave at SO619111 today. (Rare Bird Alert). At Kensley Enclosure a Siskin performing its song flight, a Song Thrush imitating a Goshawk's call and, at Woorgreens, 15 Goosanders, three adult males and 12 redheads. (Ivan Proctor). 

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still present today in the isolated hawthorn in the setaside field at Cirencester, opposite Tesco's, at 12:45pm at SP037009. (Jon Mercer). 

Cheltenham    At Naunton Park, a female garden Blackcap still this morning. (Steve Brown).

 

Wed 11th March 2009 

Forest of Dean    The Great Grey Shrike again at Boys Grave at SO619111 this afternoon. Its prey items included a Common Lizard which it impaled on the highest point of a dead tree. Also 16 Crossbills here, at least two in song. (Andy Jayne). 

Newnham-on-Severn    A first-winter Mediterranean Gull late afternoon. (Andy Jayne).

Coombe Hill Meadows    From the Grundon Hide this evening a Little Egret, four Shelducks, 13 Curlews roosting, c200 roosting corvids, Carrion Crows and Jackdaws and a Fox. (Mike Smart). At midday a flock of 62 migrant alba wagtails, at least two of them White Wagtails and a Water Pipit. (Lawrence Skipp).

WWT Slimbridge    An Avocet on the Dumbles and later on the river until 11:20am at least when it was feeding on the edge of the Dumbles down to the spartina islands. (Martin McGill, WWT).

Priding    A first-winter Iceland Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull at the pre-roost gathering this evening. (John Sanders).

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still from the layby opposite Cirencester Tesco's today in the setaside field at SP037009. (Mike Smith/Len Ingram & Don Smith.). First 3 pics by Don, last 2 pics by Mike.

 

 

 

   

 

Cheltenham    A pair of Peregrines on Eagle Tower this morning. (Chris Furley).

Alderley    A male Lesser Redpoll, a female Brambling and a male Siskin on feeders at Hill House this morning, ST769909. (Vic Polley).

Chedworth    Four Siskins (2m,2f) visiting garden feeders since Saturday. (Gill Tovey).

Charlton Kings    Three garden Bramblings at feeders still today. (Graham Watson).

 

Tue 10th March 2009 

Tewkesbury    A first-winter Mediterranean Gull on Severn Ham with a metal ring on the left leg and a large orange-red ring on the right leg. Also four Snipe and four Curlews there. (Andy Jayne).

Hasfield Ham    Two adult Peregrines (a pair), a Jack Snipe, 45 Snipe, three Curlews and a female Stonechat. (Andy Jayne).

Coombe Hill Meadows    A Little Egret, three Shelducks, 150 Teal, 12 Shovelers, a Little Ringed Plover, three Dunlin, c5 each of Lapwing and Curlew and two Green Sandpipers at the Wainlodes end. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Leigh Meadows    Still four Whooper Swans grazing today. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

Ashleworth Ham    34 Gadwall, 60 Coot and a flock of migrant wagtails  55 Pied Wagtails and a single male White Wagtail. (Mike Smart/Les Brown).

WWT Slimbridge    An Iceland Gull flying up river from Holden Tower at 9:40am. (Geoff Moyser/Graham Watson/Pete Alder/Nigel Warren).

Forest of Dean    At New Fancy View this morning six Goshawks from the viewpoint, three Ravens and seven Buzzards. A Hawfinch and at least seven Bramblings at the feeders. Also Coal Tits, Great Tits, Robins, Nuthatch and Chaffinch. (Ron Beddis).

Mon 9th March 2009 

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still from the layby opposite Cirencester Tesco's today in the setaside field at SP037009. (Graham Cox). Pics by Graham.

 

WWT Slimbridge    An Iceland Gull from Holden Tower this morning and  six Tundra Bean Geese still. (Jeremy Squire). A possible juvenile American Herring Gull at high tide, which never really settled. Also an intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull. (James Lees, WWT/Neil Smart). Great Crested Grebe and Moorhen pics by Graham Cox.

 

Frampton    The Long-eared Owl still in the small reedbed south of Splatt Bridge today at SO740063. (Rare Bird Alert).

Forest of Dean    Nine Bramblings, a Hawfinch and a Sparrowhawk at New Fancy View feeders this morning. The Great Grey Shrike showing well at Boy's Grave in the clearfell area at SO619111 this morning. Also a fly-over Goshawk here. (Gavin Black/Allan Chard). Pic by Allan.

Gloucester    At Sudmeadow this afternoon two Woodcock, 19 Teal and five Snipe. (Gordon Avery). 

Frampton    Two Sand Martins between Court Lake and Sailing Lake today. (Shane Long).

Cheltenham    A Peregrine flying between Eagle Tower and Christchurch several times this morning. Also a Blackcap feeding on apple cores in a Montpellier garden. (Chris Furley).

 

Sun 8th March 2009 

Churchdown    A Waxwing in a small garden off Meadow Way in Churchdown at 10:55am this morning. It stayed for less than a minute, never to be seen again. (EJF, from Forum).    

Awre    c80 Kittiwakes flying up the estuary and apparently settling in near Hock Cliff on the tide this afternoon (seen from Awre). (John & Viv Phillips)

WWT Slimbridge    No sign of the first-winter male AMERICAN WIGEON  all day, but a Bewick's Swan, six Tundra Bean Geese, 400 White-fronted Geese and 13 Lesser Redpolls. (James Lees, WWT). 

Forest of Dean    The Great Grey Shrike still at Boy's Grave in the clearfell area at SO619111 this morning at 10:15am. Also lots of Redwings and both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper and a single Brambling. At Cannop ponds ten Goosanders and 13 Mandarins. At New Fancy View feeders ten Bramblings and two Siskins. Also two Hawfinches at the CSMA Whitemead Forest Park (Parkend) at midday, including a singing male. (Andy & Mhairi Chapman/Paul Masters/MK/Mark Williams/Geoff Moyser).

Highnam Woods    A Marsh Tit at the feeders and nearby a male Bullfinch. (MK).

Frampton    Two Sand Martins over the Sailing Lake this morning. (Mark Hobson). The Long-eared Owl still in the small reedbed south of Splatt Bridge today at SO740063. (Rare Bird Alert).

Quedgeley    Two Hawfinches today early morning in trees at the rear of the garden at Goss Wood Corner (edge of Dimore playing field). (Paul Masters). 

Ashleworth Ham    This morning a Chiffchaff seen but not singing, a Blackcap singing, and a Peregrine. (Tony Eveleigh).

Eastington    At Millend feeders a male Brambling still with 20+ Chaffinches, a male Siskin, male and female Blackcap, four Goldfinches, four Greenfinches and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Jake King).

Cam    A Greylag flew over the High Street at 5pm. (James Lees, WWT). 

 

Sat 7th March 2009 

WWT Slimbridge    The first-winter male AMERICAN WIGEON still along South Finger today. Also the Dark-belled Brent Goose still and a juvenile Glaucous Gull on river. This evening between 4-6pm in the WWT roost from Holden Tower a first-winter Iceland Gull, 2+ Mediterranean Gulls, two Yellow-legged Gulls and 19000 Common Gulls. (James Lees, WWT). 

Cheltenham    A Blackcap heard singing at the junction of Eldorado Road and Queen's Road, later that day a male Blackcap seen in a garden in Eldorado Road. (Keith White).

Winchcombe    A Hawfinch still at Farmcote Village Church east of Winchcombe this morning. (Richard Tyler).

Frampton    Two Sand Martins between Court Lake and Sailing Lake this evening. (Nick Goatman). Also two female Scaup on Court Lake again today. (Richard Tyler). Please keep to public footpaths. The Long-eared Owl still in the small reedbed south of Splatt Bridge today at SO740063. (Rare Bird Alert).

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still from the layby opposite Cirencester Tesco's today, in the isolated hawthorn in the setaside field at 1pm at SP037009. (Rare Bird Alert). 

Forest of Dean    A Great Grey Shrike relocated today at Boy's Grave. It caught a lizard at 10:20am and was then mobbed by Siskins - viewed from the path along the lower edge of the clearing Also two Goshawks and 12 Crossbills. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming briefly on the track from Cannop Stoneworks to Farmer's Green. Two Hawfinches at the Paddocks at Speech House. Several Bramblings at New Fancy View feeders. (Ben Macdonald/Rare Bird Alert/Jake King/John Overfield). 

Tidenham    At Poor's Allotment a Jack Snipe and a pair of Stonechats. (Jake King/John Overfield)

Beachley    Three Jack Snipe and a Water Rail today. (Jake King/John Overfield)

Quedgeley    A singing male Reed Bunting at Clearwater Drive (Jake King/Paul Masters/John Overfield).

Bourton-on-the-Water    A Water Rail at Greystones Farm GWT reserve. (Andy Lewis).

Hawling    Two Tree Sparrows with 20 Yellowhammers and 15 Chaffinches, sat in bushes either side of the barn at 3pm at Hawling Manor Farm grain store SP059230. (Pete Grimmitt).

Newington Bagpath    A female Stonechat this afternoon. (Clive Mowforth). Pic by Clive.

Gloucester    Two Snipe on Hempsted Meadows NR this morning. (Gordon Avery).

Minsterworth Ham    Two pairs of Shelducks, a pair of Canada Geese and a drake Shoveler this morning. (Gordon Avery).

 

Fri 6th March 2009 

Hawling     20 Golden Plovers and 17 Lapwings at SP054219 and seven Corn Buntings (by A436) at SP074219. (Graham Bullivant).

Winchcombe    Four Waxwings in Winchcombe today at the southern end of Gretton Road, near the junction with Back Lane, on berries. (Rob Boon per Gordon Kirk).

Framilode    A Glaucous Gull on the river this evening. (Jeremy Squire). Pic taken by mobile.

WWT Slimbridge    The first-winter male AMERICAN WIGEON still on the Top New Piece from Zeiss hide today. Six Tundra Bean Geese and the Dark-belled Brent Goose still, a Glaucous Gull on river at 9am, male and female Kingfishers at a nest hole and a Cetti's Warbler singing. (Graham Watson/Geoff Moyser/James Lees, WWT). Two Little Grebes immediately in front of the South Lake observatory and an Egyptian Goose. (Steve Brown). Also two Spotted Redshanks and a Peregrine. (John Harris). Canada Geese and Whitefronts and Rook pics by Graham.

 

Frampton    A single Sand Martin over the Sailing Lake. (Graham Watson). 2+ Waxwings again on Mistletoe in trees opposite Severn Vale Services on the Perry Way this morning. Also four female Scaup on Court Lake again this afternoon. Please keep to public footpaths and the Long-eared Owl still in the small reedbed south of Splatt Bridge today at SO740063. Also here a Little Egret in the reed bed, a Great Crested Grebe on the canal and a Sand Martin flying south. (Jeremy Squire/Mark Moore/Rare Bird Alert).

Cirencester    The Great Grey Shrike still from the layby opposite Cirencester Tesco's today, in the isolated hawthorn in the setaside field at 1pm at SP037009. (Jeremy Squire). 

Walmore Common    Two Bewick's Swans, two Shelducks, 35 Teal, 14 Lapwings (one displaying a bit), ten Snipe and at least five Reed Buntings singing. (Mike Smart).

Ashleworth Ham     Only about 400 ducks left, 180 Teal, 120 Wigeon, 25 Gadwall, 40 Shovelers, 15 Pintails, ten Tufted Ducks, 55 Coots, three Curlews (one giving bubbling display song), 82 Snipe, 1+ Jack Snipe and five Reed Buntings singing. (Mike Smart).

Leigh Meadows    Four Whooper Swans still today. (Mike Smart).

Cheltenham    This morning two Grey Wagtails on the Chelt near Waitrose. (Steve Brown). 

Moreton Valence    Early evening a Little Egret over Parkend Bridge on the canal. (Steve Brown).  

Gloucester    A Green Sandpiper on Sudmeadow and a Snipe and four Teal. A pair of Shelduck (first for the year) on the waste ground pools by Presswelds. (Gordon Avery).

Quedgeley    A Little Egret at Lower Meadow near the brook. (Richard Lynn per Mark Hobson).

Forest of Dean    At New Fancy View this morning three Goshawks. Also still at least six Bramblings at the feeders along with a pair of Siskins. (Jeremy Squire/Allan Chard). Pics by Allan.

 

Thu 5th March 2009 

W