The Gloster Birder

Frampton     A DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE this morning at Saul Warth soon relocated to Splatt flashes N of Splatt Bridge. (Neil Smart). Also early afternoon an adult Yellow-legged Gull flew in at 2:15pm, also Ruff, Greenshank, six Shelducks, a Water Rail calling, a Kestrel, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Skylarks, a Kingfisher, a Chiffchaff, a female Stonechat and a flock of 21 Long-tailed Tits. (MK). On the Sailing Lake late afternoon a Sand Martin still, two Chiffchaffs and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. (Nick Goatman).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose by Mike King

Dark-bellied Brent Goose & Yellow-legged Gull by Mike King

WWT Slimbridge     A SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF singing and showing well along Estuary Walkway this morning. A CATTLE EGRET in the Tin Shed Ground with longhorn cattle viewed from the Van de Bovenkamp hide. Also 46 White-fronted Geese on site this morning.  (Slimbridge Sightings).

Sharpness/Purton     Along the canal two OTTERS, also in the area a Common Sandpiper, two Stonechats, two Blackcaps and two Chiffchaffs. (Paul Taylor).

Leckhampton Hill    A late Swallow, a flyover Crossbill and 200+ Golden Plovers which circled for 10 minutes but didn’t land. (Mark Dowie).

Coombe Hill Meadows    A Whooper Swan still this afternoon. Also 200+ Greylags settled on the Long Pool. (Paul Clark).

Stonehouse     Three Green Sandpipers calling in flight over Oldends SO793054 at 9:30am. (Richard Lansdown).

Hasfield Ham     This afternoon from Stank Lane a Peregrine sharing a pylon with a Raven, also a male Great Spotted Woodpecker near the start of the lane. (Andy & Sue Gibbons).

Tewkesbury N.R.     This afternoon a male Stonechat beside the River Swilgate. (Andy & Sue Gibbons).

Dursley     A Stonechat this morning between Whiteway and Rockstowes. (Phil Pope).

Calcot Manor & Chavenage Road     12 Stonechats and 1700+ Woodpigeons. (Terry Grant).

Chavenage Lane     800+ Fieldfares and 130+ Redwings all coming in from the E this afternoon during rainy weather, also a Red Kite. (Terry Grant).

Frampton    29 Little Egrets over the garden heading for the Court Lake roost just before 6pm. (Nick Goatman).

Woolaston Woodside     A Swallow over this afternoon. (Norman Fry).

WWT Slimbridge     Two BEARDED TITS flew out of the reedbeed islands at Martin Smith hide and flew S towards Zeiss hide. Also a Swallow over the Decoy this afternoon. (Scott Petrek).

Frampton     At the Sailing Lake a very late Sand Martin, 12 Pochards, 30 Tufted Ducks, a Chiffchaff and the adult Yellow-legged Gull still. (Nick Goatman). Late morning at Court Lake 110+ Mute Swans, 100+ Coots, three Wigeon, two female Shovelers, four Tufted Ducks, 12 Gadwalls, four Grey Herons, a Little Grebe, a Great Crested Grebe, a Nuthatch and a Cetti’s Warbler. (MK).

Berkeley shore    A Bar-headed Goose, a Barnacle Goose, eight Greylags and 451 Canada Geese. Also four Turnstones, c50 Redshanks, three Chiffchaffs and six Rock Pipits. (Paul Taylor).

Hardwicke    A Cetti’s Warbler singing again just S of Sellars Bridge, also a Kingfisher this morning. (Paul Masters).

Forest of Dean     A Dipper and a Little Grebe at the Stoneworks at Cannop Ponds at noon. (Bettie Sloane).

Upper Rissington     A Peregrine at midday. (Ben & Rebecca Hilder).

Chavenage Lane area     A male MERLIN, two Red Kites, seven Stonechats, 80+ Fieldfares and 350+ Golden Plovers which eventually circled to roost in fields near the Barton End lay-by. (Terry Grant).

WWT Slimbridge     A CATTLE EGRET around the site this morning. A Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint from Zeiss hide today. A wing-tagged Marsh Harrier on the Bottom New Piece. (Ian Hull).

Sharpness     A Common Sandpiper today. (Paul Taylor).

Frampton pools     This afternoon 87+ Mute Swans, a pair of Egyptian Geese, 17 Shovelers, 13 Wigeon and Water Rail calling, 11 Cormorants, a Cetti’s Warbler, a Coal Tit, a Siskin, 200+ Woodpigeons NW and an adult Yellow-legged Gull still on the Sailing Lake. Also eight Pochards (5m), 28 Gadwalls, a drake Mandarin, three Little Egrets, a Stonechat, three Chiffchaffs with tit flocks, a Grey Wagtail and 30+ Redwings. (MK/Gordon Hodgson).

Egyptian Geese by Mike King

Yellow-legged Gull by Mike King

Forest of Dean      24 Mandarins (14 m) on Cannop S pond this afternoon, also two Grey Wagtails on the sluice at the S end and a Great Spotted Woodpecker near the N end.  (Andy & Sue Gibbons)

Ashleworth Ham     A Whooper Swan and a Barnacle Goose today. (Rob Lewis).

Stinchcombe Hill     This morning four Crossbills, 17 Chaffinches, 21 Redwings, two Linnets and a Siskin. (James Robinson).

Longney     Early afternoon birds included two Little Egrets, 19 Mallards, a Cormorant, three Stonechats (2m, 1f), three Fieldfares, ten House Sparrows, two Goldfinches, four Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 150+ Carrion Crows, a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk. (John Fletcher).

Stonechat by John Fletcher

Rodborough Common     A male RING OUZEL at 9:20am. (Rich Hearn).

WWT Slimbridge     A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER along the summer walkway. A calling SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF at the Estuary Tower end of the walkway. Four Curlew Sandpipers, a Little Stint and a Spotted Redshank on the Top New Piece. A Short-eared Owl flew across Dumbles to Middle Point. (Slimbridge Sightings/Neil Smart). A BITTERN flew towards Kingfisher hide at 10:50am. (Mike Davis). A Little Grebe, c400 Dunlins, two Snipe, five Shovelers, c50 Teal, c30 White-fronted Geese and two Pintails. (Cas & Luther Hambling, age 11 & 9).

Leckhampton Hill     c500 Golden Plovers this morning. (Duncan Dine).

Upper Rissington     130 Golden Plovers over a ploughed field this lunchtime. (Andy Lewis).

Whitminster     A Great White Egret, a Jack Snipe, three Stonechats, eight Curlews, 50 Redwings and two Siskins this morning. (Richard Baatsen).

Netheridge Farm     At the Barn Owl Centre two Green Sandpipers, a Water Rail, two Snipe, three Stonechats (2m, 1f), two Cetti’s Warblers, 90 Fieldfares, 40 Redwings, three Blackcaps (1m, 2f), two Goldcrests, three Linnets and a Tawny Owl. (Mark Hobson).

Cleeve Hill     A Red Kite, a Peregrine, 100 Redwings and 30 Fieldfares, three Yellowhammers and plenty of Ravens. (Karle Burford).

Nailsworth    Two flocks of Golden Plovers (240 & 350) near Nailsworth this afternoon and a group of 14 Grey Partridges. (Rich Hearn).

Cotswold Water Park East     WeBS count today birds included at Pit 127 63 Pochards, 18 Wigeon, 13 Teal, 14 Tufted Ducks,  100 Lapwings, a Kingfisher and 360 Greylags with 60 Canada Geese. At Pit 126 100 Tufted Ducks, 30 Pochards, two Shovelers, four Wigeon, six Teal, ten Gadwalls and four female Pintails, a Cetti’s Warbler and flock of Siskins over. At Pit 125 a Stonechat, a Cetti’s Warbler and seven Meadow Pipits. At Pit 112 a Water Rail and a Kingfisher. (John Durell/Robin Griffiths). A CATTLE EGRET and two Ringed Plovers at Pit 132  this afternoon. (Steve Davies).

Aylburton Warth/Guscar Rocks     WeBS count today birds included 59 Canada Geese, three Shelducks, 46 Wigeon, 20 Teal, nine Mallards, four Grey Herons, 70 Lapwings, 150 Dunlins, three Snipe, 261 Curlew, three Redshanks, 592 Black-headed Gulls and two Common Gulls. Also a Peregrine, ten Skylarks over, a Swallow, 15+ Meadow Pipits, two Pied Wagtails, a Stonechat, a singing Chiffchaff and a Reed Bunting. (Barrie Mills/Mike Smart).

Lydney     WeBS count today between Lydney Docks and Warth Brook birds included two Canada Geese, eight Lapwings, a Cormorant, c75 Common Gulls, 48 Black-headed Gulls, six Herring Gulls and 16 Curlews. In Warth Brook 41 Black-headed Gulls, a Grey Heron, a Cormorant, a Buzzard and two Ravens. Also a Grey Wagtail and two Buzzards at Cone Pill. Also a Brown Hare swam 250m across the Warth. (Barrie Mills).

Frampton    24 Swallows and five House Martins feeding over the garden this afternoon. (Nick Goatman).

Cheltenham    Two Canada Geese on Pittville Lake today. (Mike Beer).

WWT Slimbridge    A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER calling from the copse behind Knott/Willow hide at 11:20am but not seen. (Tim Salkeld). A Curlew Sandpiper still on the Rushy today. From Zeiss hide 34 White-fronted Geese, two Curlew Sandpipers and a Spotted Redshank. (Dot Jones/Magnus Carter).

Cleeve Hill     Two RING OUZELS this morning. (Tom Mabbett).

Berkeley shore     At Severn House Farm over the high tide four Turnstones, two Rock Pipits and a late Wheatear. (Paul Rich).

Stinchcombe Hill    58 Redwings, 75 Fieldfares, 60 Chaffinches, two Linnets and three Common Gulls on the golf course. (James Robinson). Also a Brambling this morning. (Neil Smart).

Ashleworth Ham     WeBS count today included seven Mute Swans, 300 Greylags, 550 Canada Geese, a Barnacle Goose, two Egyptian Geese, 250 Wigeon, 90 Teal, two Gadwalls, 180 Mallards, 28 Pintails, 130 Shovelers, two Grey Herons, a Moorhen, a Water Rail, 18 Lapwings, eight Snipe and a Curlew flying over. Also a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine, a Buzzard, two drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 20 Skylarks over SW, two Meadow Pipits, two Stonechats, five Fieldfares, a Chiffchaff calling, two Reed Buntings. Birds trapped today included a Brambling, two Lesser Redpolls and a Chiffchaff. (Mike Smart/Mervyn Greening).

Coombe Hill Meadows     WeBS count today included 500 Canada Geese, 137 Greylags, two Moorhens, 15 Mute Swans, a Whooper Swan, four Grey Herons, 17 Mallards, 38 Teal, 23 Wigeon, four Lapwings, a Water Rail, eight Snipe, a Curlew calling, a Little Grebe and eight Shelducks. (David Anderson/Andrew Godden).

Purton     This morning a RING OUZEL sat in the top of a dead elm with a flock of Fieldfares. Later a calling WOODLARK went low overhead NE toward Stinchcombe Hill. Also four Siskins and two Lesser Redpoll flew N. (Neil Smart). Also today 4780 Redwings, 640 Fieldfares, 16 Bramblings, five Lesser Redpolls, a Rock Pipit, two White-fronted Goose, eight Wigeon and four Pintails. (Francis Steuck).

Ashleworth Ham     This morning four Great White Egrets flew in, stayed for a short while and flew off again, heading NE. (Steve Mockford). In the afternoon birds included four Mute Swans, a Barnacle Goose, 318 Canada Geese, 255 Greylags, 48 Shovelers, three Pintails (2m, 1f), 23 Wigeon, 37 Teal, a Gadwall, 54 Mallards, a Grey Heron, 12 Snipe, two Stonechats (m&f), a Great Spotted Woodpecker, four Goldfinches, 29 Chaffinches, a Peregrine and a Buzzard. (John Fletcher).

WWT Slimbridge     From Zeiss hide a BITTERN in the reed bed, a further 34 White-fronted Geese (6 juvs) dropped in and two more Curlew Sandpipers. (Ian Hull). A Curlew Sandpiper still on the Rushy today. (Dot Jones). 11 White-fronted Geese today. (Tim Jukes). A juvenile Spotted Redshank on South Lake this morning. Also a Great White Egret today. (Kate Fox).

Cotswold Water Park East     Two drake Goldeneyes on Pit 126 today. (Duncan Dine).

Frampton     Vis-mig at Splatt Bridge this morning included 382 Redwings, 179 Fieldfares, 124 Starlings, 237 Chaffinches, a Rock Pipit, a Crossbill, five Lesser Redpolls, four Siskins, a Brambling, a Grey Plover, a Great Crested Grebe, six Snipe, 180 Jackdaws and 14 Wigeon. (Gordon Hodgson). At the pools late afternoon three Swallows, four Pochards, a Chiffchaff, a Stonechat and three White-fronted Geese over heading towards Slimbridge. (Nick Goatman).

Chavenage Lane area     515+ Fieldfares and 270+ Redwings moving through N and W this morning. Also a Red Kite, a male Peregrine, four Kestrels and 5+ Stonechats. (Terry Grant).

Coombe Hill Meadows     The Whooper Swan still this evening. (Jeremy Squire).

Cheltenham     A Peregrine flying and calling around Christ Church near Malvern Road this morning at 11:30am. (Ian Major).

Quedgeley     A Raven in Tesco car park at 12:15pm. (Matt Lathan).

Saul Warth     A Little Stint still with the Dunlin flock this morning. Also six Siskins, four Lesser Redpolls, nine Bramblings and a high flying Coal Tit all going NW. (Gordon Hodgson). Four Stonechats (1m, 3f), a Great White Egret flew over, two Bar-tailed Godwits, 11 Snipe and a Swallow this morning. (Terry Grant).

Fromebridge     Three Ruff flying N then landed in a field close to the A38, five Stonechats along the river’s edge, 15 Swallows and a Red Kite. A Great White Egret close to Netherhills Farm. Two Dippers at Meadow Bridge. (Nigel Birch/Martin Wright).

Gloucester     A Water Rail heard calling at Saintbridge balancing pond today. (Sam Walker).

Lydney     Three Swallows over Lydney Harbour this afternoon. (Colin Butters).

Withington     Eight House Martins feeding over flood meadows N of Withington this afternoon at SP033173. (Harvey Sherwood).

Berkeley    In fields near the  Castle entrance three Little Egrets and a Grey Heron this afternoon. (Paul Sutton).

Purton     Two LAPLAND BUNTINGS flew low N and a female MERLIN flew S. (Francis Steuck).

WWT Slimbridge     The first pair of White-fronted Geese arrived this morning on the Top New Piece. (Slimbridge Sightings). A Curlew Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank on the Rushy. (Jon Mercer/Matt Lathan).

Saul Warth     A Little Stint still with 346 Dunlin this afternoon. Also four Chiffchaffs and eight Fieldfares in the short hedge and a trickle of Redwings and Chaffinches over N. (Gordon Hodgson). 

Coombe Hill Meadows     A Whooper Swan this evening, also a Ruff. (Jeremy Squire).

Frampton     A Crossbill, 16 Fieldfares, 109 Redwings and eight Pied Wagtails all flying N over the garden. At the pools this evening five Swallows, two Chiffchaffs, 42 Redwings, 12 Fieldfares, 200+ Starlings, 500+ Jackdaws and 18 Little Egrets. (Nick Goatman).

Elkstone    40 Golden Plovers at 11am today. (Pete Grimmitt).

Winstone    500+ Golden Plovers circled over the A417 near Winstone late morning. (Jon Mercer). 

Witcombe Reservoirs    Four Canada Geese, ten Greylags, two Mute Swans, seven Mallards, three Teal, three Tufted Ducks, five Little Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes, six Cormorants, 13 Moorhens, 35 Coots, 27 Black-headed Gulls and a Buzzard. (Gordon Avery).

Frampton     At 1pm at the Sailing Lake a YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER with a small tit flock calling occasionally. Also two Stonechats, a singing Chiffchaff, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Cetti’s Warbler and Redwing over. No sign late afternoon but four Great White Egrets over, five Swallows, two House Martins and three Chiffchaffs. (Nick Goatman).

Westbury-on-Severn     A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER heard calling in conifers with Goldcrests at the Severn Trent Water works. (Owen Follis).

Ashleworth Ham     A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER caught and ringed this morning. Birds also ringed today included a juvenile Brambling, two Lesser Redpolls, a Goldcrest, a Meadow Pipit, two juvenile Reed Buntings, 12 Goldfinches and two Chiffchaffs. 30 Skylarks over, two pairs of Stonechats, at least 200 Canada Geese roosting, and 200 each of Wigeon and Teal. (Mervyn Greening/Mike Smart).

Purton     1130 Redwings, 87 Fieldfares and four Bramblings over and a TREE SPARROW flew N. (Francis Steuck).

WWT Slimbridge    A pair of Whooper Swans arrived on the Top New Piece flood but flew off later. (Martin McGill). A Curlew Sandpiper on South Lake. (Magnus Carter). Two Stonechats, a Wheatear and a Great White Egret from the summer walkway. Two Cetti’s Warblers near the Martin Smith hide. Two Green Sandpipers and a Kingfisher at Knott Pool. (Mike Davis). A Curlew Sandpiper on the Rushy (same bird), also a Ruff, two Redshanks and a Snipe. From Zeiss hide a Marsh Harrier, two Spotted Redshanks, 150+ Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings and Golden Plovers.At Kingfisher hide a Stonechat and a Kingfisher. 80+ Redwings over. (John Fletcher/Jake King).

Stinchcombe Hill     This morning 90 Redwings, two Bramblings, ten Siskins, a Lesser Redpoll, a Linnet, ten Chaffinches, nine Starlings and ten Meadow Pipits on the move. (James Robinson).

Chapman’s Cross     c400-500 Golden Plovers in the first field on the right towards Stroud.  Also a flock of finches feeding in the wild bird mix on the left just before “Jolly Nice” including several Lesser Redpolls and a Kestrel hunting overhead. (Mike Cook).

Hucclecote     A Sparrowhawk resting on hedge for 10 minutes before flying off at Porchester Road. (Harold Smith).

Sparrowhawk by Harold Smith