The Gloster Birder

WWT Slimbridge     A BITTERN in the reeds below Zeiss hide at 11am. (Ian Hull). It showed briefly at 3pm for about 2 minutes, then it took off and landed on the opposite side of the reedbed. (Jonathan Bull). Pics by Jonathan.

Frampton pools    Around the Sailing Lake a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 9+ Common Terns, at least five juveniles, a Sparrowhawk harassing the terns from a dark corner of the lake, two juvenile Black-headed Gulls on a nest platform, four pairs of Great Crested Grebes, a pair with two and a pair with three young, a pair of Little Grebes, a pair of Oystercatchers, four Kestrels, two Reed Warblers and a Treecreeper. On plough south of the Sailing Lake 200-300 Black-headed Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Common Gull, five Pied Wagtails and 20+ Swifts feeding. (MK). Also this evening a Common Sandpiper, 12 Chiffchaffs, ten Blackcaps and three Bullfinches. (Nick Goatman). Pic by Mike.

Epney    An adult Yellow-legged Gull S of the Anchor Inn on the river at 12:45pm. (MK).

Netheridge Farm     Two Common Terns low S over the Barn Owl Centre at 7:50am. (Mark Hobson).

Tresham     Late afternoon two Yellow Wagtails on Hatherall’s Barn midway between Tresham and the A46. (Vic Polley).

Cotswold Water Park East   Around Pit 132 SU169974 birds included two Egyptian Geese, a female Tufted Duck and six  tiny ducklings, two Common Terns, two Great Crested Grebes, 24 Greylags, ten Canada Geese, 11 Mallards including seven ducklings, a Grey Heron, a Little Egret, four Mute Swans, 18 Lapwings, 28+ Sand Martins, five Sedge Warblers, a male Stonechat, five Stock Doves, five Chiffchaffs, three Green Woodpecker including a juvenile, a Grey Wagtail, two Song Thrushes, a male Blackcap, two Buzzards and three Red Kites. (John Fletcher/Jake King).

Prestbury     A Buzzard and four Red Kites present during mowing today. (Josh Adamms). Pic by Josh.

Frampton pools     A Spotted Flycatcher by Court Lake, also a Hobby and two Nuthatches today. (Nick Goatman).

WWT Slimbridge     The SPOONBILL still on the edge of the Dumbles seen from Zeiss hide. (Roberta Goodall). Just two chicks remain with the pair of Little Ringed Plovers at Hogarth hide. (Paul Cousins). Pics by Paul.

Whiteway     Four Lapwings in a ploughed field near the road at SO924098 at 12:45pm then flew off S. (Barry Hill).

Winchcombe     Five Red Kites following the mowing equipment today and most of the week. (Phillip Cull). Pic by Phillip.

Coombe Hill Meadows     Birds today included 11 Mute Swans, 20 Canada Geese, a male Wigeon, seven Teal, ten Gadwalls, two female Tufted Ducks, one with six ducklings), two Red Kites following the hay-making tractors, 48 Lapwings, three juvenile Curlews, two of them with colour-rings, one without, also Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and one or two Reed Buntings still singing. (Mike Smart).

Berkeley     At least ten young Long-tailed Tits in the garden this afternoon. (Andrew Jones).

Frampton pools     A BLACK KITE flew strongly S over the A38 and the pools and out of sight at 10:30am. No further sightings. Also today a Mediterranean Gull, a Hobby, two Green Sandpipers, a Yellow-legged Gull, eight Little Egrets, 150+ Swifts, nine Common Tern including five juveniles, two Kestrel families, a Yellow Wagtail, five Little Grebes, 19 Great Crested Grebes including eight juveniles and 114 Coots. (Nick Goatman).

WWT Slimbridge     Two Wood Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, two Greenshanks, a pair of Shelducks with seven ducklings and a female Shoveler with five ducklings from Robbie Garnett hide at 2:45pm. (Helen Bojaniwska).‏

Cleeve Hill/Wontley Farm     c10 Corn Buntings, several flocks of Linnets, 30+Yellowhammers, many Meadow Pipits, a Buzzard and two Red Kites today. (Chris Snook). Pics by Chris.

Cheltenham     Five juvenile Sparrowhawks still today in Pittville Park. (John Sanders). Pic by John.

WWT Slimbridge     Two Great White Egrets from Zeiss hide from 1:45pm. (Ian Hull).

Dursley     A Dipper on the river at Water Street today. (Shane Long).

Coombe Hill Meadows     This morning, birds included four Snipe, two Green Sandpipers, two juvenile Curlew, only 1 ringed bird today, three Common Gulls and an adult Hobby feeding at 11:15am. (Dave Stone).

Hawling     A Red Kite, Buzzards, Kestrels, Yellowhammers, Mistle Thrushes, Song Thrushes, Ravens and a Lapwing. Other sightings included Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Ringlet, Marbled White, Large White, Small White, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper and Gatekeeper butterflies and a Seven Spot Ladybird. (Chris & Phil Andrews). 

Aylburton Common     A pair of Spotted Flycatchers in the garden this morning using wires as vantage point to spot insects flying around a mature Ash tree. (Martin Vaisey). Pic by Martin.

Cirencester     A pair of Little Owls in Cirencester Park today. (Chris Snook/Clive Scarlett). Also in the Park this morning a Tree Pipit, two Hawfinches and a juvenile Cuckoo on the ride. (Michael Cook). Pic by Chris.

Aston Down     A Red Kite over Aston Down airfield this afternoon. (Richard Parker).

Cam     Two Hobbies in fields behind Tesco today. (Jonathan Bull).

WWT Slimbridge     A Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper in front of the Rushy and four Little Ringed Plover chicks from Hogarth hide today. Also the regular Kingfishers from Kingfisher hide. (Paul Dunham). Also three Greenshanks and four Green Sandpipers on the Tack Piece. (Andy Jordan/Terry Stevenson). Pics by Paul.

Cheltenham     Five Sparrowhawks have fledged from a nest in Pittville Park. (John Sanders). Pic by John.

Ashleworth Ham     The Constant Effort ringing session this morning caught 95 birds. Summer visitors caught included six Redstarts, all juveniles, a freshly hatched juvenile Reed Warbler, seven Sedge Warblers (5 ads, 2 juvs), an adult Lesser Whitethroat, nine Whitethroats (1 ad, 8 juvs), ten Blackcaps (6 ads, 4 juvs), seven Chiffchaffs (1 ad, 6 juvs) and four Willow Warblers (3 ads, 1 juv). Residents caught included two juvenile Treecreepers, 13 Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, four Bullfinches and seven Reed Buntings (1 ad, 6 juvs). Also on the reserve a singing Reed Warbler,1-2 singing Sedge Warblers and a singing Willow Warbler, two Red Kites following the tractors and five Oystercatchers over. (Mervyn Greening/Mike Smart).

Gloucester     This evening at 5pm a Peregrine possibly carrying prey being pursued closely by a Lesser Black-backed Gull over Tuffley. (Ian Elphick).

Winchcombe     30+ Swifts screaming over the North Street area each evening this week.  Earlier throughout mid morning 20+ Swifts in low flight and flying under eaves of the church in North Street. (Nigel Wakerley).

WWT Slimbridge     From Zeiss hide the SPOONBILL still distantly on the estuary and a summer-plumaged Little Stint again distantly on the Top New Piece. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Netheridge Farm    A Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler and a Chiffchaff in the same Elder bush this morning at the Barn Owl Centre. (Mark Hobson).

Leighterton     12 Swifts, four Whitethroats and three Corn Buntings along the Monarch Way today. (Roy Kinchin).

Symonds Yat     In the Yat Rock area today Peregrine Falcons, a Red Kite, Buzzards, Ravens, Stock Doves, Swallows, Swifts, House Martins, Sand Martins, two Song Thrushes, two Kingfishers, Goldfinches, Mandarins, and a female Goosander with seven young. Other Sightings included a Bank Vole, five Fallow Deer, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Large White, Ringlet, Painted Lady, Marbled White and Meadow Brown butterflies, a White-legged Damselfly and Hummingbird Hawkmoths. (Chris & Phil Andrews).

Ashleworth Ham     Birds today included seven Red Kites, two Buzzards, a female Teal, four Grey Herons, 32 Mallards, four Moorhens, three Canada Geese, a Song Thrush, a Nuthatch, a Chiffchaff, 60+ Jackdaws, 40 Carrion Crows and a juvenile Whitethroat. (John Fletcher). Pics by John.

Bishops Cleeve     A Green Woodpecker in the cemetery today. (Alan McIlquham). Pics by Alan.

Halmore     Two Spotted Flycatchers in woods this morning at SO695025. Also five Buzzards circling overhead, a singing Song Thrush in the garden and 15-20 Purple Hairstreaks in the oaks. (Chris Newton).

Minchinhampton    At least twenty Swifts over the church this morning. (Richard Parker).

Forest of Dean     Up to 30+ Swifts screaming over Coleford for the last few evenings, centred on St John’s church. Later in the evening 200-250 Jackdaws take over. (Geoff Fawcett).

Dursley     A screaming party of 30+ Swifts again over Woodfield Road at 12:50pm. (MK).

Ebley     The Ring-necked Parakeet again at Foxmoor Lane stables at SO 82398 05555 regularly this week in the evenings. (Carol Mein).

Twyning     At Upham Meadow this morning at least five Skylarks and 1-2 Reed Buntings still singing. (Mike Smart).

Coombe Hill Meadows     This evening 11 Mute Swans, 19 Greylags, four Canada Geese, a Teal, ten Gadwalls, a female Tufted Duck with six ducklings, a Coot with four young, an Oystercatcher, 16 Lapwings, a Green Sandpiper, four Snipe and four Curlews came in to roost at 9:05pm, the adult male with three juveniles, two of them colour-ringed and one not. Also a Fox and a Roe Deer. (Mike Smart).