The Gloster Birder

Frampton     The SPOTTED CRAKE again tonight at Splatt Bridge, calling from 10:30pm. Listen from the gate on the towpath only. Also a Barn Owl and a Cuckoo. (Mark Hobson). This morning a fledged Yellow Wagtail at Splatt Bridge, also 3+ juvenile Lesser Whitethroats and two juvenile Mandarins. (Gordon Hodgson).

Saul Warth     Two GREAT WHITE EGRETS flew slowly over N at 7:30 this morning and Tawny Owl nearby. (Gordon Hodgson).

WWT Slimbridge     Two Ruffs in full breeding plumage on the Top New Piece viewed from Zeiss hide this morning. (Roberta Goodall). Also a Knot showing some red colouring. (John Budd).

Stinchcombe Hill     A Crossbill heading over N at 4:45pm. (James Robinson).

Brockhampton     A Cuckoo calling on the outskirts of the village this morning. (Bob Fryer).

Forest of Dean     A Red Kite over Woolaston, Lydney at 7:45 this morning. (Clare Gibbs). At St. Briavels, at 11am a Red Kite flying in an easterly direction, maybe the same bird. (Bob Broughton).

Tetbury     A Red Kite over Tetbury at 1:30 pm today. (Philip Langston).

Cleeve Hill     Two Red Kites over the N end of the Common today, and a single bird earlier on. (Graham Cownie).

Breadstone     A White Admiral at Ernest Cook Reserve at 1:45pm. (Kenny Hills/MK). Pic by Mike.

Gloucester     An adult male RED-BACKED SHRIKE today at Horsbere Brook Flood Storage Area. Showing well along the hedge at the left hand side of the causeway until 9:30pm at least, although it did go missing for 40 minutes earlier. (Mike Broome). Park carefully in the layby at SO8653919045, additional parking across the road at SO8646918765. Shrike is roughly at SO8675719037. Pics by Mike.

Pic by Andy Jordan.

More pics by Chris Snook.

Pic by Mike, swallowing a damselfly.

A Red Kite lingering over Podsmead for the last few days. (Richard Cox).

Frampton     The SPOTTED CRAKE again tonight at Splatt Bridge, calling from 10pm. Listen from the gate on the towpath only. (Richard Baatsen).

Ashleworth Ham     Between 4:20-7pm today a QUAIL calling by Meerend Thicket. Calling on and off but sometimes ½ an hour between callings. It seemed to be between the floodwater and the lane and other times in the meadow beyond the floodwater. (Charles Martell).

Leighterton     A Little Owl on a small building between Ashtree Farm and Castle Farm on the road to Didmarton at ST821903 at 9:10 p.m; also two singing Corn Buntings  near Bennetts Farm. (Vic Polley).

Newent     In the garden nesting Spotted Flycatchers and a pair of Linnets on the patio this morning. (Dan Mason). Pics by Dan.

Cheltenham     A Little Egret at Pittville Park again today. (Mike Beer).

Halmore     A Red Kite over fields flying towards Slimbridge/Gossington. (Paul Sutton).

Witcombe Reservoirs     A Little Egret today and a Red Kite circling overhead. (Owen Follis).

Frampton     The SPOTTED CRAKE again tonight at Splatt Bridge, calling from 10:30pm. (Paul Rich/Gordon Kirk).

WWT Slimbridge     Two Little Ringed Plovers and four Green Sandpipers from Robbie Garnett hide, adult and juvenile Whinchats at Mid Point, Great Crested Grebes, Little Grebes and Kingfisher on South Lake. (Mike Davis). A pair of Pochards on South Lake. On the Tack Piece, the female Ruddy Shelduck, a Bar-headed Goose, two Common Cranes and a Reed Warbler feeding young. (Jonathan Bull).

Stinchcombe    A Spotted Flycatcher in Breakheart Quarry this afternoon. (Phil Pope).

Cherington      On the lake and around the woods early afternoon birds included three Kingfishers (ad m&f & juv), male and female Grey Wagtail, a Green Woodpecker, a Reed Warbler, a Blackcap, two Chiffchaffs, 15 Swifts, a Swallow, a female Tufted Duck, seven Mallards, two Mute Swans, a Buzzard and a Kestrel. (John Fletcher).

Cleeve Hill     A leucistic Rook today. (Alex Barclay). Pic by Alex.

Berkeley     A Weasel ran across the road on the way out of Berkeley just before the roundabout at 9:45am. (Paul Sutton).

Frampton     A SPOTTED CRAKE along the edge of a potato field at Denfurlong Farm (Cool’s Farm) S of the Sailing Lake at 10:15pm on Sunday 21st, identified from a video on call. (Nick Goatman). Relocated tonight at Splatt Bridge, calling constantly from 10:25pm to 11pm at least. (Gordon Hodgson).

Charlton Kings    26 Crossbills over the garden this morning. (Greg Mabbett).

Saul Warth     A family of four Little Owls, two adults and two fledglings today. (Roy Widgery).

Daneway     A male Redstart singing from the top of a Spruce, and a female in the same area, presumably the mate, seen and heard calling. (Robin Griffiths).

WWT Slimbridge     This morning at the Rushy five Green Sandpipers, two Redshanks, and an Oystercatcher.  On the Tack Piece from Robbie Garnett hide the female Ruddy Shelduck, three Little Ringed Plovers, six Redshanks, six Green Sandpipers and continuous Reed Warbler activity in front of the hide. From the Decoy hide a Grey Heron and a Coot on a nest. (Andy & Sue Gibbons). From Zeiss hide 30+ Avocets, 20+ Lapwings, 6+ Redshanks, two Oystercatchers, a Little Egret and 40+ Teal. (MK). Pic by Andy & Sue.

Forest of Dean     At Nagshead a pair of Pied Flycatchers gathering food for their young. Also several Spotted Flycatchers. (Chris Snook). Pics by Chris.

The Dipper’s nest in Whitecroft, has been vandalised and the pair at Parkend did briefly show signs of bringing young out to feed, but there has been no sign of them during the past week. An adult seen today midway between Whitecroft and Parkend. (Bernie Dumbleton). Pic by Bernie.

Gloucester     An adult Little Egret flying SW over Llanthony Weir at 12:03pm today, seen from the garden. (Gordon Avery).

Walmore Common    At least 15 Crossbills flew low W over the north part of the Common late morning. (Andy Jayne).

Cheltenham     A Little Egret at Pittville Park today. (Stephen Emerson).

WWT Slimbridge     On the Tack Piece the female Ruddy Shelduck with Shelduck still from Robbie Garnett hide. Also four Green Sandpipers, three Little Ringed Plovers including a fledged juvenile and another adult Little Ringed Plover from Stephen Kirk hide. Members of the public and WWT members must pre-book online to visit so numbers can be managed. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Halmore     Fledglings in and near the garden included Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Whitethroat, Greenfinch and Mistle Thrush. (Chris Newton). Pic by Chris.

Longlevens     A male Bullfinch feeding in the garden again today at 9am. (Pam & Frank Bryant).

WWT Slimbridge     Four Green Sandpipers on the Rushy, five Little Ringed Plovers, two on the Rushy and three on South Lake, a Redshank on the Rushy and 27 from Zeiss hide, 54 Black-tailed Godwits and a female Pintail on the Rushy. Many Avocets with chicks on South Lake, 33 from Zeiss hide. Two Mediterranean Gulls from Hogarth hide and two male Kingfishers from Kingfisher hide. (Paul Cousins/Paul Masters/MK). Pics by Paul C,  Kingfisher by Mike.

Slimbridge     A Common Tern fishing at Shepherd’s Patch bridge at 9:35am. (MK).

Berkeley shore     Two Hobby sightings this morning about a mile apart, also c150 Starlings. (Paul Taylor).

Barnwood     A Nuthatch in the garden early this morning. An adult Mediterranean Gull (winter plumage) flew N over Barnwood Road at 7:58am, just up from the M&S service station opposite Grove Crescent. (Rob Crofton).

Coombe Hill Meadows     This morning birds included a family of Willow Warblers, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Bullfinch, a Coal Tit, a pair of Yellow Wagtails, a male Cuckoo, a male Wigeon, c6 Avocets, two Oystercatchers, a Black-headed Gull and a Kingfisher. (Rob Crofton/Andy Langley). 

Symonds Yat     At 6pm an adult Peregrine, 40+ Canada Geese and five Mute Swans. (Paul Sutton).

Longlevens     A male Bullfinch feeding in the garden today, at 8:30am and 12:30pm, only staying for a few minutes each time. (Pam & Frank Bryant).

Alderley     At Knowles Mill eight female Mandarins with four juveniles at the small lake along Ozleworth Bottom at ST779915. (Vic Polley).

Coombe Hill Meadows     This afternoon numerous Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings, Whitethroats and Reed Warblers, a pair of Yellow Wagtails, many Avocets and Oystercatchers, three Curlews and a Redshank. (Chris Snook). Pics by Chris.

Longney     Late afternoon 21 Mallards, two Oystercatchers, five Cormorants, a Little Egret, four Sedge Warblers, a Meadow Pipit, a Swallow, two House Martins, two Swifts and two Buzzards. (John Fletcher).

WWT Slimbridge    Four Green Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover on the Rushy. (Ken Heron & Jenny Jones).

WWT Slimbridge     A Black Tern seen over the river from the Estuary Tower this morning. (John Budd). On the Rushy two Little Ringed Plovers, a Green Sandpiper and the female Pintail still. The female Ruddy Shelduck was on the Tack Piece. Members of the public and WWT members must pre-book online to visit so numbers can be managed. (Slimbridge Sightings). 

Frampton     On the Sailing Lake 4+ Common Terns, c100 Swifts, two Great Crested Grebes and five Pied Wagtails. (Jonathan Bull).

Selsley     Three Crossbills flew over the village at 8:40am heading towards Nailsworth. (Richard Hearn).

Tetbury     A Red Kite over the centre of the town at 10:45am. (Donna Cook).

Ashleworth Ham     A Red Kite on the reserve this morning. Also six Mute Swans, 20 Mallards, three Curlews and a Little Egret. (Gordon Avery/Mervyn Greening/Brenda & Peter Emberson).

WWT Slimbridge     The Ruddy Shelduck on the Tack Piece this morning and a Lesser Whitethroat near the hide. On the Rushy four Green Sandpiper, 47 Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Ringed Plover. Members of the public and WWT members must pre-book online to visit so numbers can be managed. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Cheltenham     A Reed Warbler singing by the boating lake at Pittville Park mid-morning. (Rob Homan). Also a pair of Goldcrests feeding juveniles this morning. (Martin Harrison).

Stroud    1 or 2 Dippers on the River Frome today and eight Mandarins on the canal. (Mike Davis).

Forest of Dean     At May Hill today 6+ Linnets and a singing male Stonechat. (David Dexter). Pic by David.

Stonehouse     Two broods of Mute Swans on the canal between Boakes Drive and Bond’s Mill each with six cygnets. From the Ocean to Bond’s Mill, a male and a female Blackcap and a second male on the railway embankment. At least seven singing Chiffchaffs and Swifts over. A pair of Buzzards over Stanley Downton. (Paul Sutton).

Miserden     Two Buzzards, a female Kestrel, two adult female Great Spotted Woodpeckers at Miserden park nurseries and Swifts over. Nearby a Yellowhammer along the road to Daneway. (Paul Sutton).

Forest of Dean     At Nagshead today a Firecrest, two Wood Warblers, three Treecreepers, a Pied Flycatcher, a Bullfinch, two Chiffchaffs and four Blackcaps. (Roy Kinchin). Pics by Roy.

WWT Slimbridge     The WOOD SANDPIPER reported on the Tack Piece earlyon but no sign later. Also on the Rushy 67 Black-tailed Godwits, two Little Ringed Plovers and three Green Sandpipers. On the Tack Piece four Green Sandpipers and the female Ruddy Shelduck. Members of the public and WWT members must pre-book online to visit so numbers can be managed. (Slimbridge Sightings/Paul Masters/Jonathan Bull/Terry Stevenson).

Ashleworth Ham     A Buzzard, a Cuckoo calling, four Skylarks, two Song Thrushes, Whitethroats with juveniles, two Willow Warblers, Goldfinches, a Chiffchaff, Stock Doves, Swallows, House Martins, a male Redstart, a Linnet, a pair of Reed Buntings feeding young, a pair of Bullfinches, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Grey Herons, a Greylag, a Swift and a Long-tailed Tit. Other sightings included Scorpion Flies, a Common Blue Damselfly, two Seven-spot Ladybirds, Dark Bush Crickets and a Weasel dashing across the lane. (Chris & Phil Andrews). Pic by Phil.

Cheltenham    A pair of Swifts over at 2:45pm, also a Red Kite soaring over at 3:15pm. (Mike Barwick).

Gloucester     A Red Kite over Linden at 1pm and it or another at 4:20pm. (Mo Croose-Johnson).