The Gloster Birder

Forest of Dean     The GREAT GREY SHRIKE still at Crabtree Hill today, although never guaranteed and often missing elsewhere. Please keep to the public footpaths and out of the clearfell. (Roy Kinchin).

Chapman’s Cross     Birds today included 20+ Yellowhammers and 100+ Golden Plovers. (Josh Adamms). Pic by Josh.

Gloucester    At Saintbridge Pond LNR birds included 60 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull, four Teal (3m, 1f), 29 Mallards, four Moorhens, a Chiffchaff, two Linnets, four Chaffinches and a Raven heard. (Paul Brunt).

Cheltenham     A Jay visiting the garden in Benhall this week, with two together today. (David Norman). Pic by David.

Berkeley shore     Today 200+ Dunlins, 60 Lapwings, 15 Redshanks, 12 Turnstones, two Stonechats and a Peregrine. (Martin Greenish/Michelle Davies).

Forest of Dean     At least eight Crossbills near Drybrook Road Station and three more later at Crabtree Hill. (Roger Greenwood).

WWT Slimbridge    Eight Pink-footed Geese on the Dumbles, two juvenile Greenland White-fronted Geese and 42 White-fronted Geese on the Tack Piece and a Great White Egret and a Little Egret on riverbank this morning, all from the Estuary Tower. Two Whooper Swans on the Rushy early morning only. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Ashleworth Ham     From the GWT hide birds included a Great White Egret flying S, three Grey Herons, 92 Greylags, 281 Canada Geese, 26 Shovelers, 62+ Pintails, 56 Wigeon, 240+ Teal, male and female Gadwall, a male Tufted Duck, 169 Lapwings, three Snipe, a Peregrine, a male Sparrowhawk, three Buzzards, 50+ Redwings, 40+ Fieldfares, a Goldcrest and 11 Long-tailed Tits. (John Fletcher/Ian Hull/Jake King).

Saul     The juvenile SHAG emerged from roost at 7:40am, splashed and preened for 5 minutes then flew S along the canal. (Steve Brown). It was back at the Shipton Mill jetty near Cadbury Bridge (Fretherne Bridge) this afternoon. (Eric Palmer).

Sharpness     Three BLACK REDSTARTS (1m, 2f) at the end of Dock Road, mostly on the last three houses. Also a Sparrowhawk, two Blackcaps, two Reed Buntings, four Bullfinches and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits. (Steve Brown).

WWT Slimbridge     A Kingfisher perched by the entrance ramp. (Steve Brown). Two BITTERNS still from Zeiss hide this morning. (Andy Jordan). Two Whooper Swans flew S over the car park at 4:30pm. (Sam Walker).

Shab Hill     c1500 Golden Plovers this morning including the striking partial albino bird at SO932147. Drive under A417 park and walk down the track towards Stockwell Farm the birds are usually in ploughed field between the footpath and the A417. (Duncan Dine). Pic by Dunc.

Kempsford    By the small sewage works down Washpool Lane this morning a minimum of five Chiffchaffs feeding on small flies. (Duncan Dine). Pic by Dunc.

Coombe Hill Meadows     This morning birds included nine Shelducks, 170 Shovelers, 40 Gadwalls, 160 Pintails, a male Red Crested Pochard, three Pochards, 41 Tufted Ducks, four Little Egrets, a Water Rail, 76 Coots and a Kingfisher. (Andy Jordan).

Ashleworth Ham     From GWT hide this morning 140 Canada Geese, nine Snipe and 13 Shovelers. (John Fletcher).

Chapman’s Cross    No sign of the Great Grey Shrike in a quick 20 minute check at 11:15am but a dog walker was in the favoured copse. 180+ Golden Plovers here. (MK).

Gloucester    Today behind the tip at Hempsted along the Severn four Stonechats, a female Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine, ten Fieldfares, seven Cormorants, two Wrens and six Long-tailed  Tits. (Josh Adamms). Backyard birds in Barton Street in the city included nine Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Pied Wagtail, 16 Feral Pigeons, two Long Tailed Tits, a Blue Tit and a Great Tit heard and a Magpie and a Carrion Crow. (Paul Brunt).

Chapman’s Cross     The GREAT GREY SHRIKE c1.5mls SW of Sapperton SW of Chapman’s Cross along Emmerson Lane at SO 93149 01379 again between 11:15-11:35am then flushed by the farmer on a quad bike and not relocated by 1:15pm. Also a Peregrine, five Buzzards, two Kestrels, c250 Golden Plovers, a Stonechat, a Corn Bunting, 30+ Skylarks and 20 Linnets. (Graham Lawlor/Jake King/MK).

Sharpness    The two female/immature BLACK REDSTARTS active around the end of Dock Road late morning.  Also a Peregrine on top of the concrete tower. (Andy & Sue Gibbons).

WWT Slimbridge     This afternoon from Zeiss hide two BITTERNS showing very well, one catching and eating a large fish. Also a Stonechat, four Redshanks, three Snipe and a large mixed flock including Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlins and Knot. On the Dumbles the eight Pink-footed Geese, four Common Cranes and a Peregrine. (Andy & Sue Gibbons) Pic by Andy.

Symonds Yat     In the Yat Rock area today the resident Peregrine pair, who several times today had to see off an intruding adult female Peregrine and a juvenile female Peregrine, ten Buzzards, male and female Goshawk, Ravens, a Goldcrest, a Wren, Nuthatches, a Jay, a Kingfisher, male and female Goosanders, Redwings, a Grey Heron and a Tawny Owl calling. Other sightings included a Peacock butterfly and Fallow Deer. (Chris & Phil Andrews). Pic by Phil.

Maisemore     Along Church Road, from the lake to the weir this afternoon birds included male and female Stonechat, three Buzzards, 70+ Redwings, three Song Thrushes, a Jay, a Green Woodpecker, two Blackcaps, a Mistle Thrush, a Greenfinch, eight Goldfinches and two Little Grebes. (John Fletcher).

Chapman’s Cross     A GREAT GREY SHRIKE c1.5mls SW of Sapperton SW of Chapman’s Cross along Emmerson Lane cSO934012. (per Paul Marshall).

Calmsden    In fields just N of Calmsden on the road to Chedworth at SP048095 nine Grey Partridges and 30 Golden Plovers over. (Duncan Dine).

Coln Rogers     Two adult Yellow legged Gulls on floodwater this morning. (Duncan Dine).

WWT Slimbridge     The BITTERN still showing well from Zeiss hide today. (Roy Kinchin). Two Whooper Swans arrived for the swan feed this evening. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Sharpness    At least two immature/female BLACK REDSTARTS along Dock Road this morning. (Andy Jordan).

Frampton     A pair of Little Owls at 2:30pm. (Marc Freebrey). Pic by Marc.

Tewkesbury   A Snipe flew out from patch of bulrushes on Tewkesbury Nature Reserve this morning. (Pete Long).

Forest of Dean     Three Reed Buntings and two Bullfinches at Crabtree Hill and large numbers of Coal Tits, Blue Tits and Chaffinches near the trig point. Also a Stonechat and two Goshawks. On Woorgreens Lake 12 Goosanders (7m, 4f), several Crossbills and a Raven on the island. (Martin Russell/Angela Carswell/Ken Burrows). Pic by Martin.

Sharpness     A BLACK REDSTART still at the end of Dock Road early afternoon. (Paul Taylor).

WWT Slimbridge     A BITTERN from Zeiss hide again today. (Tom & Greg Mabbett/Della & Hayden Lack). 52 Bewick’s Swans on the Rushy this evening. (Martin McGill).

Saul     The immature SHAG very briefly on the canal N of Cadbury Bridge at 7:45am then flew off N. (Andy Oliver).

Batsford     A FIRECREST and two Goldcrests amongst a small mixed tit flock at Batsford Arboretum this afternoon. Also three Mistle Thrushes, two Nuthatches, a Treecreeper, two Siskins, a Brambling and 27 Chaffinches and a Raven calling nearby. (Michael Cook).

Chedworth     At Chedworth Roman Villa, two Ravens, two Buzzards, two Jays, four Marsh Tits, a Coal Tit, six Long-tailed Tits, two Nuthatches, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Goldcrests, a Mistle Thrush and a Grey Heron over. (Steve Brown).

Aldsworth     At Aldsworth junction on the A40 6 or 7 Red Kites over a Pheasant carcass dipping in and out of the traffic. (Michael Cook).

Lydney     Today at Lydney Harbour birds included 12 Fieldfares, four Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, two Lapwings, ten Long-tailed Tits, a Pied Wagtail and three Redwings. (Martin Russell). Pic by Martin.

Halmore     Birds in the garden today included a Marsh Tit, eight Long-tailed Tits and a male Sparrowhawk which narrowly missed a Great Tit. (Chris Newton).

Quedgeley     A Coal Tit in the garden this morning, just the second this year. (MK).

Horsley     A female Kestrel carrying a vole near Horsley tip crossroads late afternoon. Nearby a male Kestrel on wires near the Kingscote turning. (Paul Sutton).

Sharpness     Two BLACK REDSTARTS, male and female, at the end of Dock Road today. (Paul Cousins). Pics by Paul.

Ozleworth     At the junction of the A4135 and the B4058 late morning 600 Golden Plovers and 14 Lapwings in the field adjoining Symonds Hall Farm and the B4058. (Vic Polley).

WWT Slimbridge     A BITTERN showing well from Zeiss hide again late morning. Also eight Pink-footed Geese on the spartina island still. (Dot Jones).

Shab Hill    c200 Golden Plovers in field on the E side of the A417 just S of the Air Balloon, opposite the Birdlip turning. (Jon Mercer).

Forest of Dean     In the Crabtree Hill/Woorgreens Lake area today two Buzzards, a Jay, 10+ Coal Tits, a Pied Wagtail and five Goosanders (4m, 1f). (Martin Russell). Pic by Martin).

Gloucester     At Horsebere Brook Flood Storage Lake a Green Woodpecker, two Stonechats, a Teal heard, two Mallards, a Coot, a Moorhen, a Buzzard, a Grey Heron, a Kestrel and two Meadow Pipits. (Paul Brunt).

Coombe Hill Meadows    Ten Canada Geese, five Wigeon, 25 Teal, 2-3 Mallards, 30 Tufted Ducks and 150 Redwings today. (Mike Smart).