The Gloster Birder

WWT Slimbridge     A GREAT SKUA briefly on the Top New Piece then flew out over river and headed towards Purton at 9am. (Scott Petrek). Also lots of Curlew activity in front of the Robbie Garnet hide, with large and small groups lifting off regularly. (Dave Tait). Pics by Dave.

Frampton pools     A Barn Owl sat on a branch half way along the Perryway early morning. (Nick Goatman).

Beachley Point     This morning on a falling tide, a Grey Heron, three Oystercatchers, eight Curlews, a WHIMBREL, an adult male Peregrine and a Rock Pipit. (Gordon Avery).

Awre peninsula     18 Curlews offshore at SO715092, also a Reed Bunting and two Grey Herons nearby this morning. (Mike Ingleby).

Ashleworth Ham     From the GWT hide and along Meerend Thicket SO827263 this afternoon birds included a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, 255 Teal, 71 Wigeon, 64 Mallards, 67 Canada Geese, ten Pintails, 14 Shovelers, eight Greylags, 87 Lapwings, two Snipe, three Grey Herons, four Mute Swans, seven Chaffinches, 30 Fieldfares, six Redwings, 125 Starlings, 12 Pied Wagtails, 68 Carrion Crows and a Buzzard. (John Fletcher). Pic by John.

Forest of Dean     At 3pm today six Goosanders (1m, 5f) at Cinderford Linear Park. (Peter Boorman & Lynne Mayers).

Frampton     Two Great White Egrets on Court Lake at midday. (Martin Greenish).

Forest of Dean    Two female Goosanders at Cinderford Linear Park pond at SO650131. (Mike Ingleby).

Brimscombe    A Little Egret in the river at Wimberley Mill off Knapp Lane this morning. (Shelley Saguaro).

Ozleworth     A Barn Owl flew in front of the car this evening near Newark Park. (Katharine Goatman).

Forest of Dean     At Cannop pond (Upper) six Little Grebes, four Wigeon, six Tufted Ducks, 20 Mandarins and three Cormorants SO608108. (Mike Ingleby). At Woorgreens Lake 36 Goosanders and a mixed flock of 50+ Siskins and Lesser Redpolls feeding in Alder trees nearby SO629129.Also in the Woorgreens/Crabtree Hill area four Greylags, two Buzzards, two Jays, 36 Goosanders, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Grey Heron, five Goldfinches, three Coal Tits, a Mute Swan, four Coots, a Redwing and five Crossbills. (Martin Russell/Mike Ingleby). Pic by Martin.

Frampton pools     At first light a BITTERN flew out of Court Lake and towards the river. (Nick Goatman). A female Goldeneye on the Sailing Lake, 135+ Redwings and ten Fieldfares flew N, the Yellow-legged Gull flew over towards Court Lake, seven Meadow Pipits, a male Sparrowhawk and two Chiffchaffs by the Sailing Club one standard and one very grey with strong supercilium and resembled Siberian, but neither called. At Court Lake a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, 56+ Gadwalls, 14 Cormorants, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Raven over. (MK). Record shot of probable Siberian Chiffchaff by Mike.

Batsford     At the Arboretum birds included two Ravens, three Nuthatches, 1-2 Mistle Thrushes, a Jay, a female Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Coal Tit. (Andy & Sue Gibbons).

Cotswold Water Park West     At Shorncote Reedbeds four Water Rails calling, a Shoveler, 15 Teal, 20 Gadwall, 40 Wigeon, two Buzzards, 35 Lapwings, a Snipe over, two Green Woodpeckers, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, four Meadow Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, Skylarks over, 60 Fieldfares, 40 Redwings, three Song Thrushes, a pair of Stonechats, 5+ Cetti’s Warblers heard, a Chiffchaff, a male Blackcap, a Goldcrest, 30+ Goldfinches, 25 Reed Buntings, ten Bullfinches and eight Roe Deer. (Jon Mercer).

Westonbirt Arboretum     Three Crossbills and a Brambling in Silk Wood amongst the larches in the Rotary Glade today. (Martine Fenn).

Symonds Yat     In the Yat Rock area today the Peregrine pair and an intruding juvenile female Peregrine and another adult Peregrine perched on Doward Hill. Also two Buzzards, Ravens, three Goosanders (2f, 1m), a Marsh Tit, Jays and a Song Thrush. Other sightings included four Fallow Deer and a Bank Vole. (Chris & Phil Andrews).

Cirencester     Several Bramblings around Cirencester Park this afternoon. (Richard Tyler). Pic by Richard.

Frampton    The SHORT-EARED OWL from Splatt Bridge again at 3pm. (Roy Widgery).

Saul    Three CATTLE EGRETS and 15 Little Egrets this afternoon in paddocks between Saul and Fretherne. (Roy Widgery).

Forest of Dean     At Lydney Harbour 50 Lapwings on the shore at SO648013 and at Lydney Boating Lake a female Goosander and a Kingfisher SO635025. (Mike Ingleby).

WWT Slimbridge     This afternoon from Zeiss hide 35 Snipe, 71 Dunlins, seven Ruff and a Peregrine. Also a Water Rail from Willow hide. (John Fletcher/Martin Greenish). Pic by John.

Badgeworth     Along the Gloucestershire Way, via Sandy Pluck Lane and Badgeworth Park birds included 12 Fieldfares, three Redwings, a Song Thrush, 12 Goldfinches and four Roe Deer. (Howard Taylor).

WWT Slimbridge     The JACK SNIPE still this morning, nine Cranes about in small groups and two Peregrines hunting together. (Paul Sutton). An Egyptian Goose on the spartina island viewed from the Holden Tower this morning. (Roberta Goodall). Pic by Paul.

Rodley    Three adult Bewick’s Swans at Wilmer this afternoon. (Andy Jayne).

Cotswold Water Park West     Belated news of a second-winter Caspian Gull on 30th November. (Mark Dowie).

Cotswold Water Park East    30 Goosanders, six Goldeneyes and six Mandarins at Pit 104. (Mick Jones).

Forest of Dean     Ten Goosanders on Woorgreens Lake, also 30 Linnets and a few singles of Siskin, Redpoll and Crossbill in the area. (Ian Ralphs).

Cheltenham     A Red Kite being mobbed over Cox’s Meadow this morning. (Louise Bride).

Badgeworth     From Badgeworth Park along Hatherley Brook and the Gloucestershire Way 13 Fieldfares, a Redwing, a Bullfinch and a Buzzard over today. (Howard Taylor).

Cleeve Hill    20 Golden Plovers flew low over the Radio Masts early afternoon. (Duncan Dine).

Cherington     At Cherington Lake and  in the  surrounding woodland this afternoon birds included six Little Grebes, 15 Mallards, a Kingfisher, two Nuthatches, two Marsh Tits, three Redwings, ten Fieldfares, nine Long-tailed Tits, a Green Woodpecker heard, two Jays, a Buzzard and a male Tawny Owl calling. (John Fletcher).

Quedgeley     A JACK SNIPE at Clearwater Drive early this morning. (Andy Chapman).

Lower Rea     A Red Kite this morning, a patch tick. (Andy Chapman).

Shurdington     A Red Kite over the A46 at 1:15pm. (B Emberson).

Frampton     The SHORT-EARED OWL from Splatt Bridge again this evening. (Gordon Hodgson). At the pools three CATTLE EGRETS, a Great White Egret and 32 Little Egrets roosted at Court Lake. (Nick Goatman).

Coombe Hill Meadows    The Greenland White-fronted Goose roosted overnight and was in front of Grundon hide until 8:15am when it flew to Ripple Pits in Worcs. Also at least 200 Wigeon, 85 Mallards, 120 Teal, seven Mute Swans and c40 Fieldfares. (Mike Smart).

Cotswold Water Park East     At Pits 125 and 126 two Chiffchaffs, a Cetti’s Warbler, 70 Gadwall, a Green Sandpiper, 150 Lapwings and a pair of Grey Wagtails this morning. (Ian Ralphs).

WWT Slimbridge     Three Water Rails showing very well at the Willow hide feeders today. (Jon Mercer).

Gloucester     Two Peregrines over Kingsholm early afternoon. (Tom Mabbett).

Stonehouse    This evening near St Cyr’s Church a Tawny Owl calling from near the railway line. (Paul Sutton).