The Gloster Birder

Saul    The juvenile SHAG still on the canal, busy fishing just S of Cadbury Bridge at 3pm. Also a Kingfisher flew N along the canal. (Seb Buckton/Tim Hutton). 17 Little Egrets in the horse paddocks to the right of the Saul-Arlingham road approaching from Cadbury Bridge at 11:15am. (MK).

Saul Warth     31 Mute Swans, 20 Shelducks, five Grey Herons, two Cormorants, nine Curlews, a male Stonechat and four Meadow Pipits late morning. (MK).

Frampton     The  female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER still present, c1/4 mile S of Splatt Bridge. Also a Stonechat. (Seb Buckton).

Lydney    Four female Goosanders on Lydney Lake today. (Andy Meaton).

Purton     A first-year male Goldeneye on the canal by the timber ponds this afternoon at 3pm. (Mike Davis/Andy Jordan/Francis Steuck).

Quedgeley     A Grey Wagtail in the garden today, a garden tick. (Paul Masters).

Tewkesbury     A male Blackcap in the garden today. (Les Ditchburn).

Hucclecote    A flyover Raven being mobbed Carrion Crows and a male Chaffinch and Pied Wagtail in garden this morning. (Harold Smith).

Cotswold Water Park West     A female Marsh Harrier at Shorncote Reedbeds NR hunting right in front of Hayward hide this morning. (Dave Soons). Pic by Dave.

Saul/Frampton      The juvenile SHAG again on the landing stage of the flour mill N of Cadbury bridge at noon and on the canal there two hours later catching and eating a fish.  On the canal between Cadbury and Splatt Bridges a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, repeatedly flushed by boats but favouring the same general area.  Also W of the canal (from the towpath) c25 Shelducks, a Grey Heron, two Little Egrets, two Kestrels and two Stonechat pairs.  (Andy & Sue Gibbons).

Leighterton     A Merlin near Drews Farm this afternoon. Also large flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings. (Paul Rich).

Sharpness     This morning two Goldeneyes flew W through the Docks and then presumably S along the Severn. (Andy Jordan).

Winstone    c150 Golden Plovers circled then flew W over A417 near Winstone late morning. (Jon Mercer).

Leckhampton Hill     23 Golden Plovers and three Yellowhammers this afternoon. (Les Ditchburn).

WWT Slimbridge     Two juvenile Greenland White-fronted Geese on the Dumbles viewed from Zeiss hide this morning. (Mark Hobson). A Water Rail from Willow hide today. (Alan Mcilquham). Pic by Alan.

Coombe Hill Meadows      Eight Mute Swans, 18 Greylags, 120 Canada Geese, nine Shelducks, 200 Wigeon, 20 Teal, ten Mallards, 22 Pintails, 34 Shovelers, four Gadwalls, 60 Tufted Ducks, 12 Pochards, a Goosander, two Little Grebes, 18 Lapwings, 300 Black-headed Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Sparrowhawk, a Cetti’s Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 50 Fieldfares and five Redwings today. Grundon hide still inaccessible. (Mike Smart/Andy Jayne).

Cheltenham     Five Nuthatches on a tree near the metal bridge in Pittville Park this afternoon. (Clare McNulty).

Gloucester     A Jay at Barnwood Arboretum this morning. (Simon Hart).

Cotswold Water Park West     A Great White Egret on Pit 9 today. (Nigel Pleass). At Shorncote Reedbeds early morning a Little Grebe, a pair of Shovelers, eight Gadwalls, 15 Teal, 42 Tufted Ducks, three Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, 142 Lapwings, two Water Rails seen and six more heard, a Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, three Grey Wagtails, five Meadow Pipits, 15 Skylarks, a Stonechat, 100+ Fieldfares/Redwings, seven Cetti’s Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, three Goldcrests, a pair of Bullfinches, 20 Reed Buntings and 70+ Linnets. (Jon Mercer).

Cotswold Water Park East    Around Pits 125-127 a Green Sandpiper, two Snipe, a Brambling, a Red Kite, a Chiffchaff, a Water Rail, 284 Tufted Ducks and three Cetti’s Warblers. (Ian Ralphs).

WWT Slimbridge    130 feeding Snipe from Kingfisher hide this morning. Also 17 White-fronted Geese. (Rob Werran). Also two Greenland White-fronted Geese here. A Water Rail from Willow hide this afternoon. (Dot Jones).

Fairford     In the garden today ten Long-tailed Tits, four Coal Tits and a Sparrowhawk which took a Starling. (Paul Charles).

Tewkesbury     The video camera on the Peregrine nesting tray on the bell tower at Tewkesbury Abbey has recently (4th November) seen a BLACK REDSTART. There is a short video clip here : http://abbeyperegrines.blogspot.com/2019/11/ (per David Bagley).

Saul     The juvenile SHAG still at the flour mill N of Cadbury Bridge until 10:45am at least. (Roy Shilham/Andy Jayne/MK). Pic by Mike.

Saul Warth    36 Mute Swans, a Shelduck, two Little Egrets, 80 Curlews, 64 Lapwings, a Golden Plover, a Rock Pipit, 15 Meadow Pipits, a singing Chiffchaff and a male Stonechat. (MK). Pic by Mike.

Frampton pools     A Woodcock, a Great White Egret, a Yellow-legged Gull, two Green Sandpipers, 26 Pochards, 54 Tufted Ducks, a Shoveler, 39 Gadwalls, four Little Grebes, 17 Great Crested Grebes, 439 Coots,  two Water Rails, three Chiffchaffs, 50+ Linnets and a Grey Wagtail. (Nick Goatman).

Symonds Yat     In the Yat Rock area today the resident Peregrine pair and the Strathdon Cliff pair nearby, eight Buzzards, a Red Kite, a male Sparrowhawk, Jays, Redwings, Ravens and Stock Doves. Also four Fallow Deer. (Chris & Phil Andrews).

Winchcombe     This afternoon a Kingfisher along the River Isbourne. Also 6+ Long-tailed Tits and two Coal Tits in the garden. (Andrew Worthington).

Rodley Sands     From Blueboys Farm downstream to the pylons then upstream to Longney Sands birds included two Wigeon, 57 Lapwings, a Dunlin, four Snipe, ten Meadow Pipits, five Pied Wagtails, a female Stonechat and 15 Fieldfares. (Mike Smart).

Awre     123 Curlews, feeding in grassy field just below the church at SO 712080. (Mike Smart).

Walmore Common     This evening two Whooper Swans, 38 Greylags, 13 Canada Geese, six Shelducks, 290 Wigeon, five Gadwalls, 490+ Teal, 70 Mallards, ten Shovelers, a Water Rail heard and 69 Lapwings. (Mike Smart).

Apperley    15+ Bewick’s Swans in two groups in the very northern meadow at Hanby’s, the very big meadow with the solitary oak tree. This is the Apperley side of Coombe Hill, reached by going down Wick Lane, near the Farmers Arms.  Parking is impossible down Wick Lane, so best to park in Farmers Arms car park. (Nigel Blayney per Mike Smart).

WWT Slimbridge    204+ Knot with 561 Black-tailed Godwits on South Lake. Eight Pink-footed Geese still on the Dumbles and 20 White-fronted Geese and two Greenland White-fronted Geese on Bottom New Piece. (Slimbridge Sightings). Pic by Paul Dunham.

Saul     The SHAG still on the canal N of Cadbury Bridge mid-morning. (Nick Goatman).

Saul Warth     The Common Sandpiper still, a Rock Pipit flew over high towards Splatt Bridge, 25 Mute Swans, four Shelducks, a female Pintail, 12 Curlews, four Lapwings, three Dunlins and three Little Egrets. (MK).

Forest of Dean     At Nagshead, a female LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER at the lower junction of the short/ long trails, two Goshawks calling, two Buzzards, two Ravens, a Tawny Owl hooting at midday, several Jays, a small flock of Redwings,  Siskins over and a Goldcrest. Also a Wild Boar heard. The GREAT GREY SHRIKE still today at its traditional site at 9am. (Steve Brown).

Batsford     A Woodcock flew through Batsford timber yard late afternoon. (Dave Morgan).

Hawling area     Eight Red Kites over the Stow Road today. (Roy Shilham).

Saul     The SHAG still at Saul junction on the canal today. (Les Ditchburn/Paul Masters).

Slimbridge     A RED-BREASTED MERGANSER just flew low along canal N over Patch Bridge at 7am. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Minsterworth     Two Whooper Swans, 21 Mute Swans, four Shelducks, 290 Wigeon, ten Teal, 15 Mallards, ten Pintails, 15 Shovelers, two Grey Herons, 300 Black-headed Gulls, 25 Herring Gulls, 25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a big increase in wintering thrushes with 350 Fieldfares in the treetops, with just one or two Redwings. (Mike Smart).

Walmore Common (from Chaxhill Lodge)     40 Greylags, 80 Canada Geese, 500 Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 20 Mallards, 20 Shovelers and 110 Lapwings today. (Mike Smart).

Saul     A SHAG on the canal seen both sides of Cadbury Bridge today. (Gordon Hodgson). Pics by Mike.

Nearby 30+ Little Egrets in the horse paddocks along the road to Arlingham getting pushed around by a Buzzard at 1:15pm. (MK).

Saul Warth     A very late Common Sandpiper, 32 Mute Swans, 10+ Curlews, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff singing. (MK).

Frampton    From Splatt Bridge this morning a flock of 51 Snipe, eight Lapwings, 20 Curlews, two Kingfishers, a Chiffchaff and five Stonechats (3m). (Gordon Hodgson).

Quedgeley     A Raven in Asda car park this morning. (Tony Hurcombe).

WWT Slimbridge     From Zeiss hide a Dark-bellied Brent Goose and eight Pink-footed Geese on the Dumbles. 20+ White-fronted Geese on the Tack Piece. 332 Shovelers on South Lake. (Martin McGill).