Saturday 11th March 2023

WWT Slimbridge    The WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER back on South Lake at 11am after being missing since Tuesday 7th. Two Water Rails and Great Spotted Woodpecker from Willow hide. (Helen Bojaniwska). A Great White Egret in the Back from the Brink exhibit. (Dot Jones). Siskins and Lesser Redpolls with a Goldfinch flock in Alders behind the Otter enclosure. (Esther Rumsey).

Frampton     On the flashes N of Splatt Bridge 117 Curlews, nine Ruff, 18 Black-tailed Godwits, two Redshanks, three Golden Plovers N and a Little Egret this morning. (MK). Late morning 122 Black-tailed Godwits, 35 Teal, Shoveler and Chiffchaff. (Gordon Hodgson).

Little Egret by Mike King

Ruff by Mike King

Chavenage Lane     700+ Chaffinches, 40+ Corn Buntings, 350+ Fieldfares, 30+ Yellowhammers, 750+ Starlings, 70+ Carrion Crows and a male Peregrine attacking two Buzzards defending a kill on the ground. (Terry Grant).

Corn Bunting by Terry Grant

Forest of Dean    At Cannop Stoneworks a colour-ringed Dipper, two Grey Wagtails and nine Goosanders (2m, 7f). At Parkend by the cricket pitch seven Hawfinches. From New Fancy View two Goshawks. At Woorgreens c50 Siskins with a few Lesser Redpolls. (Derek Hale).

Dipper by Derek Hale

Cotswold Water Park East     At Whelford Pools two Green Woodpeckers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tits, a  Wren, a Blackcap, 24 Great Crested Grebes, Goldcrests, two Treecreepers, three Grey Herons, a Great White Egret, Redwings, three Buzzards, a Red Kite, Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush heard, many Shelduck, Teal, Tufted Ducks and a Cormorant colony. (Sarah Townsend).

Cormorants by Sarah Townsend

Ryeford     A Peregrine with a kill low over the Ebley bypass at 7:30 this morning. (Steve Pullen).

Leckhampton Hill     12 Yellowhammers, c20 Chaffinches and three Skylarks at the top of the hill this morning. Also three Greenfinches and two Lesser Redpolls on the lower slopes. (Ian Davies).

Aylburton Warth/Guscar Rocks     At high tide ten Canada Geese, 13 Shelducks, 59 Wigeon, 119 Teal, four Mallards, a Grey Heron, eight Oystercatchers, a Lapwing, 27 Dunlins, 350 Curlews, 19 Redshanks, 500 Common Gulls, 50 Black-headed Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls, five Skylarks, two Meadow Pipits, two Ravens, 30 Carrion Crows and two singing Reed Buntings. (Mike Smart).

Chedworth     A female Blackcap in the garden again today. Also two Nuthatches, a garden first. (Chris Berens).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Saturday 11th March 2023

Friday 10th March 2023

Frampton     On the flashes N of Splatt Bridge this afternoon a Little Egret, 28 Teal (17m, 11f), five Shovelers (2prs & 1m), a Water Rail, 20+ Lapwings, nine Curlews, 20 Dunlins, a Sparrowhawk, two Buzzards, three Reed Buntings (2m, 1f) and six Roe Deer. (MK).

Water Rail by Mike King

Chavenage Lane area     500+ Chaffinches, 12+ Corn Buntings, 30+ Yellowhammers and three Red Legged Partridges today. At nearby Barton End 160+ Golden Plovers and a Red Kite. (Terry Grant).

Nailsworth     60+ Siskin mainly flying NW, and 20-30 on garden feeders may have been different birds. (Terry Grant).

WWT Slimbridge    A female Kestrel with prey on a post near the Discovery Hide today and two Water Rails from Willow hide. (John Elley).

Kestrel by John Elley
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Friday 10th March 2023

Thursday 9th March 2023

Saul Warth     35 Avocets, ten Redshanks, eight Oystercatchers, 104 Shelducks and 41 Meadow Pipits. Two pairs of Tufted Ducks on Saul Lodge pond. On Splatt flashes 60+ Teal, four male Shovelers, six Black-tailed Godwits, ten Curlews and 10+ Redwings. (MK).

Uley     A Curlew flew over calling in the fields to the S of Uley this afternoon. (Liz Williams).

Cheltenham     A Little Egret on the fence near Lidl in Bishops Cleeve, near Cheltenham. (Nigel Tustin).

Kempley Green     A Goldcrest on the patio, also two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and two Long-tailed Tits today. (Steve Watts).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Thursday 9th March 2023

Wednesday 8th March 2023

Awre    At 12:30pm the RICHARD’S PIPIT still at SO7205908775 feeding in tractor tracks between the obvious lone bush and the shoreline reedbed. (Nigel Sluman). Park at the church and follow the footpath out to the shoreline. Please keep to public right of way and don’t wander around in private fields. Thank you.  

Richard’s Pipit by Nigel Sluman

WWT Slimbridge     A MERLIN from Zeiss hide this morning. (Paul Masters/Magnus Carter). No sign of the White-rumped Sandpiper today.

Frampton pools     On the Sailing Lake two Goldeneyes (juv m & f), 120+ Redwings and 30+ Fieldfares. Around the Gravel Wash a Raven, a Sparrowhawk, a Jay and four Bullfinches. On Court Lake 21 Gadwalls, nine Teal, a Little Egret and a pair of Oystercatchers. (MK). Also seven Great Crested Grebes including a pair displaying. (Nick Goatman/Nigel Young).

Oystercatcher by Mike King

Raven by Mike King

Goldeneyes by Mike King

Great Crested Grebes by Nigel Young

Halmore     Garden birds today included eight Greenfinches, seven Chaffinches, 11 Goldfinches, three Coal Tits, five Long-Tailed Tits and a Song Thrush. Also a female Grey Wagtail and two Pied Wagtails in a farm silage pit. (Chris Newton).

Greenfinch by Chris Newton
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Wednesday 8th March 2023

Tuesday 7th March 2023

WWT Slimbridge     The WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still on South Lake today. Also 35 Avocets. The drake SCAUP on the Rushy. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Coombe Hill Meadows     A Little Grebe, seven Curlews, a Little Owl, a Chiffchaff and tow Roe Deer this morning. (Les Ditchburn).

Whitminster     Between Whitminster and Packthorne Farm this evening c6 Yellowhammers, two Red-legged Partridges, a Barn Owl hunting over rough pasture adjacent to the footpath and bridleway at Whitminster, also four Roe Deer. (Tanya Allen).

Chavenage Lane     450+ Chaffinches feeding in harvested Maize fields, 250+ Fieldfares, a Red Kite and 10+ Buzzards. (Terry Grant).

Winchcombe     In the field by the entrance to Sudeley Castle, a mixed flock of 50 Fieldfares and Redwings, three Song Thrushes, a male Bullfinch and a Red Kite overhead. At New Meadow Farm SP029266, at midday, a Tawny Owl calling, a Nuthatch, a Greenfinch, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and two Muntjacs. (Andrew & Gill Worthington).

Bengrove, near Twigworth     At Cox’s Brook a Snipe flushed, a Skylark singing and three Roe Deer at SO838225. (Mike Smart).

Leigh Meadows     Three Mute Swans, eight Teal, five Mallards, a Little Egret, a Moorhen, a Buzzard, 11 Snipe and a Green Sandpiper. (Mike Smart).

Nailsworth     12+ Siskins and five Blackcaps amongst birds on the garden feeders. The Long-tailed Tit appears to have now completed nestbuilding in a Spirea. (Terry Grant).

Chedworth     A female Blackcap feeding on fat balls in a snowy garden today. (Harvey Sherwood).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Tuesday 7th March 2023

Monday 6th March 2023

WWT Slimbridge     The WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still on South Lake today. Also male and female Goldeneyes and 30 Avocets. The drake SCAUP on the Rushy. (Slimbridge Sightings). A MERLIN in a tree by the pillbox viewed from Estuary Tower. (Jeremy Holland).

Forest of Dean     At New Fancy View several Goshawks and Ravens displaying. At Parkend a Grey Wagtail on the River Lyd. At Woorgreens lake 11 Goosanders. At Nagshead three Bullfinches (2 males), Siskins and a Goldcrest. (Les Ditchburn).

Saul Warth     This afternoon 170+ Curlews, 50+ Shelducks, a Redshank, two Snipe, 35 Lapwings, a large female Peregrine and 35 Meadow Pipits. Three Mandarins on Saul Lodge pond (2m, 1f). (MK).

Mandarin by Mike King

Frampton pools     37 Lapwings over, a male Goldeneye, 112 Tufted Ducks, 12 Gadwalls, eight Teal, a pair of Mandarins, 12 Cormorants, a Little Grebe, three Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Oystercatchers, a Raven, two Nuthatches, two Blackcaps and three Chiffchaffs today. Three male and a female Tawny Owl calling at the pools tonight. (Nick Goatman).

Chavenage Lane     Two Red Kites, 275+ Fieldfares, 175+ Chaffinches, 31 Pied Wagtails and three male Stonechats. (Terry Grant).

Stroud    This morning a pair of Dippers on the River Frome and three Grey Herons towards Bowbridge. (Paul Sutton).

Dipper by Paul Sutton

Berkeley Pill     20+ Redshanks, 16+ Dunlins, 60+ Wigeons, three Curlews, 6+ Skylarks singing and three Shelducks this morning. (Mike Davis).

West Down/Wontley Farm/Cleeve Hill     This morning five Corn Buntings, 12 Stonechats, lots of Skylark singing, a Yellowhammer, Ravens and Red Kites. (Duncan Dine/Andy Wiggins).

Cranham     In the Alder hedge at Overtown Farm a mixed flock of 20+ Chaffinches, 12+ Yellowhammers and at least two Siskins. (John Miles).

Brockworth     In the garden a pair of Coal Tits, first for 2 years, a pair of Blackcaps, six Long-tailed Tits and  30+ Goldfinches. (John Miles).

Sandhurst     This morning five Mute Swans, 35 Mallards, a Buzzard, 250 Fieldfares, ten Redwings, two Ravens and five Carrion Crows. (Mike Smart).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Monday 6th March 2023

Sunday 5th March 2023

Awre    This morning the RICHARD’S PIPIT still at SO7205908775 feeding in tractor tracks between the obvious lone bush and the shoreline reedbed at 7:55am. (Ian Sherriffs). Park at the church and follow the footpath out to the shoreline. Please keep to public right of way and don’t wander around in private fields. Thank you.  

WWT Slimbridge     The WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still on South Lake today and showing well. Two adult SPOONBILLS on the Tack Piece and the drake SCAUP on the Rushy. (Slimbridge Sightings).

White-rumped Sandpiper by Mike King

Spoonbill by Mike King

Spoonbills by Craig Lewis

Frampton pools     This morning 143 Barnacle Geese, a Ross’s Goose, a Bar-headed x Snow Goose, 45 Greylags, four Canada Geese, a pair of Goldeneyes, 56 Tufted Ducks, ten Gadwalls, 12 Teal, a pair of Oystercatchers, two Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, six Siskins, a Lesser Redpoll, 200+ Fieldfares and 100+ Redwings. Curlew migrating over this evening. (Nick Goatman).

Hawling     80+ Golden Plovers, seven Lapwings, two Treecreepers, a Woodcock and a Barn Owl. Also a Roe Deer. (Graham Baker).

Alvington     Two Red Kites at 5pm above the A48 at Alvington heading in a north-easterly direction. (Ant Dobbs).

Chavenage Lane     230+ Chaffinches, 30+ Yellowhammers and 20+ Corn Buntings flushed from a harvested Maize field by a male Merlin this afternoon. (Terry Grant).

Ebley     A Dipper on the River Frome below Bridge Mead this morning. (Barry Hill).

Stroud     A pair of Dippers and a pair of Grey Wagtails on the river at Frome Banks, at midday. (Barry Hill).

Coombe Hill Meadows     At dawn four Mute Swans, 53 Greylags and 51 Canada Geese roosting, most flew out early, four Shelducks, at least 410 Wigeon, 15 Gadwalls, 30+ Teal, 40 Mallards, 20 Shovelers, a Pintail, six Tufted Ducks, a Grey Heron, a Water Rail squealing in Broadmere, 15 Coots, two Oystercatchers, 50 Lapwings, eight Curlews, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Skylarks, 2-3 Fieldfares, 40 Carrion Crows and at least five singing Reed Buntings. (Mike Smart).

Nibley     Two Skylarks in the monument field. A Goshawk at Westridge Woods over the monument side of the woods. A Brambling with small flock of Chaffinches and three Buzzards. (Tom McCarthy).

Cheltenham     Two Peregrines on top of Christ Church at 10am, one with prey. (David Norman). A Green Woodpecker heard this morning at Pittville Lawn. (Howard Taylor).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Sunday 5th March 2023

Saturday 4th March 2023

Awre    This morning the RICHARD’S PIPIT still at SO7205908775 feeding in tractor tracks between the obvious lone bush and the shoreline reedbed at 9:30am. (Mark Coller/Darren Pearce). Park at the church and follow the footpath out to the shoreline. Please keep to public right of way and don’t wander around in private fields. Thank you.  

WWT Slimbridge     The WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still on South Lake today. The adult SPOONBILL on the Tack Piece and the first-winter drake SCAUP on South Lake. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Cotswold Water Park West     An adult CASPIAN GULL and adult Mediterranean Gull in the Pit 16 roost of c4000 gulls tonight. (David Creber).

Forest of Dean     A Goshawk from New Fancy View. A Mandarin and a pair of Grey Wagtails on Cannop ponds. (Ian Davies).

Coombe Hill Meadows      Two Mute Swans, 20 Greylags, 20 Canada Geese, four Shelducks, 510 Wigeon, 12 Gadwalls, 30+ Teal, 30 Mallards, four Pintails, 27 Shovelers, six Tufted Ducks, a Water Rail squealing, ten Coots, three Oystercatchers, five Lapwings, a Snipe, eight Curlews, a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and two Reed Buntings singing. (Mike Smart/Ian Ralphs).

Tewkesbury     On Severn Ham two pairs of resident Mute Swans and another half dozen flying round, 25 Mallards, a Cormorant over, a Curlew, five Skylarks, 41 Carrion Crows and three Rooks. At Mythe Brook five Mute Swans, 40 Canada Geese, 95 Wigeon, ten Teal, 11 Shovelers, a Great White Egret and five Carrion Crows. (Mike Smart).

Thrupp to Bowbridge     A Water Rail at Griffin’s Mill lock at Thrupp this morning. Also a Crow harrying a Sparrowhawk, a pair of Grey Wagtails, a Treecreeper and a Muntjac. (Chris Newton/MK).

Water Rail by Mike King

Cheltenham     15 Goldfinches on a tall tree in Pittville Circus Road today. (Clare McNulty).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Saturday 4th March 2023

Friday 3rd March 2023

WWT Slimbridge     The WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still on South Lake today. The adult SPOONBILL around the grounds and the first-winter drake SCAUP on South Lake and later the Rushy. (Slimbridge Sightings). A Cetti’s Warbler near the Willow hide this afternoon. (John Elley).

Cetti’s Warbler by John Elley

Forest of Dean     Six Hawfinches high in the Lime trees by the road at Parkend but mobile. Also 100 Siskins at Crabtree Hill. (Ian Ralphs).

Elmore     At the Elmore Court Rewilding Project from the public footpath along Broadmeadow Bank Ditch birds this afternoon included 24 Teal, seven Mallards, a Green Sandpiper, four Snipe, a Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Stock Dove, 80+ Woodpigeons, 100+ Fieldfares, a male Stonechat, a pair of Bullfinches, a Chiffchaff heard, 20+ Meadow Pipits, a Skylark singing and four Ravens. (MK). Also three Mute Swans, two Grey Herons and a Kestrel. (Mike Smart).

Cotswold Water Park East    Around Whelford Pools 48 Tufted Ducks, 33 Shovelers, three Goosanders (2m, 1f), two Little Grebes, seven Teal, eight Great Crested Grebes, eight Red Crested Pochards, 27 Cormorants, two Gadwalls, two Shelducks, a female Reed Bunting and 17 Coots. (John Fletcher).

Aylburton Warth     Eight Golden Plovers, Lapwing, 330 Curlews, four Shelducks, a Cormorant, five Skylarks and seven Meadow Pipits. (Paul Brunt).

Minsterworth Ham     Ten Teal, four Mallards, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, a Curlew, five Snipe, three singing Skylarks, five Meadow Pipits, a male Stonechat, at least 300 Fieldfares, c10 Redwings and five Roe Deer. (Mike Smart).

Stonehouse     A Little Egret in trees by the River Frome below the canal near Bonds Mill. (Paul Sutton).

Little Egret by Paul Sutton

Chavenage Lane     600+ Chaffinches and 20+ Corn Buntings feeding in a harvested Maize field, flushed by a male Peregrine. (Terry Grant).

Nailsworth     A Long-tailed Tit nest building in the garden today. (Terry Grant).

Charlton Kings     A garden Siskin in the Beeches area today. Lesser Redpoll continue to visit regularly. (Rose Lennard).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Friday 3rd March 2023

Thursday 2nd March 2023

WWT Slimbridge     The WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still on South Lake today. The adult SPOONBILL around the grounds and the first-winter drake SCAUP on the Rushy. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Scaup by Roger Wasley

Awre    This morning the RICHARD’S PIPIT still at SO7205908775, seven Meadow Pipits, nine Skylarks, a Stonechat, c40 Fieldfares, c10 Redwings, c80 Starlings, c40 Common Gulls, four Stock Doves, two singing Mistle Thrushes, 12 Shelducks and six Teal. (Paul Masters). Park at the church and follow the footpath out to the shoreline. Please keep to public right of way and don’t wander around in private fields. Thank you.  

Richard’s Pipit by Paul Masters

Tidenham Chase     A JACK SNIPE this morning. (Steve Thorogood).

Westbury-on-Severn     This afternoon four Curlews, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Barn Owl, a Kestrel, three Chiffchaffs, three Grey Wagtails and a roost of c100 Greenfinches nearby at Broadoak. (Andy Jayne).

Stroud     At lunchtime a Water Rail at Wallbridge. (Sam Walker).

Dudbridge     A female Goosander and two Grey Wagtails at Dudbridge lock. (Sam Walker).

Minsterworth     A Red Kite over the A48 near The Severn Bore Inn today. (Paul Masters).

Longney    Around the old orchards and the adjoining Severn Way this afternoon birds included a Goldcrest, a male Blackcap, four Chaffinches, six Goldfinches, 49 Fieldfares, two Redwings, two Long-tailed Tits, two Song Thrushes, seven Jackdaws, two Cormorants and a Curlew heard. (John Fletcher).

Cheltenham     A Red-legged Partridge at 8:20am on London Road at the junction with Keynsham Road. It successfully crossed the road in heavy traffic. (Steven Parker).

Hawling     Plenty of Red Kites, Pheasants, Stonechats, a hunting Kestrel and two Roe Deer today. (Alan McIlquham).

Red Kite by Alan McIlquham
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Thursday 2nd March 2023