Friday 3rd November 2017

Cam     Four Hawfinches flew NE over Cam Peak today. (Neil Smart).

Frampton pools     The Whooper Swan still on Court Lake today. (Gordon Hodgson).

Arlingham     A Barn Owl hunting in orchard N of Arlingham SO711116 at dusk again tonight. (Antony Seabright).

Cleeve Hill     Early afternoon until 2:30pm at least the GREAT GREY SHRIKE on the higher ground SE of the of the heather enclosure. Also a Peregrine on the pylon on the ridge above Wontley Farm at 1:20pm. Also on the common Yellowhammers, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Linnets and two Ravens on the radio masts at 11am. (Sam Macvie).

Leckhampton Hill     5+ Bramblings with Chaffinches and Linnets at Hartley Farm this morning but no sign of the Snow Bunting. Also 60+ Golden Plovers over. (Jon Mercer/Les Ditchburn). Pic by Jon.

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Edge     At Sevenleaze Lane mid afternoon at SO861123 36 Linnets, two Bramblings, seven Long-tailed Tits, a Buzzard and a Red-legged Partridge. (John Fletcher).

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Thursday 2nd November 2017

Leckhampton Hill     The adult female SNOW BUNTING again today at cSO950181 on the path from Brownstones Quarry car park, Hill Farm. Also 43 Golden Plovers, 50 Skylarks, a Brambling, a male and female Bullfinch, 250 Linnets and 8+ Yellowhammers. (Andy Jayne/Chris Snook/Richard Tyler). Pics by Richard.

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Edge    At Rudge Hill two Hawfinches early morning. (Andy Jayne).

Cleeve Hill     The GREAT GREY SHRIKE by the Sheepwash Pool early morning, and again at the top of the heather enclosure later. Also a Short-eared Owl on the slopes above the Sheepwash Pool, 12+ Corn Buntings at Wontley Barn, and a Woodcock in West Wood. (Chris Stott).

Witcombe Reservoirs     Three male and two female Mandarins today, unusual here. (Andy Jayne).

Cam Green     A pair of Stonechats in a field behind Retro. Also two Buzzards, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, many Redwings and a Mistle Thrush. Also a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail behind Tesco. (Shane Long).

Nympsfield     At Tinkley Lane a Stonechat today. (Keith & Lyn Perkins).

WWT Slimbridge     A female MERLIN hunting Teal from the Martin Smith hide at 1:45pm. (Steve Pullen).

Arlingham     A Barn Owl hunting in orchard N of Arlingham SO711116 at 5:15pm tonight. (Antony Seabright). At Arlingham Passage a Stonechat today. (Keith & Lyn Perkins).

Wotton-Under-Edge     150+ Common Gulls, six Pied Wagtails, and many Rooks and Jackdaws with grazing cows and sheep at Newark Park. (Katharine Goatman).

Cotswold Water Park East     At Whelford Pools around Pit 111 GWT reserve 26 Tufted Ducks, three Great Crested Grebes, 13 Coots, four Redwings, five Long-tailed Tits, two Goldcrests, four Grey Heron and seven Cormorants. (John Fletcher).

Cotswold Water Park West     At Shorncote Reedbed at Pit 85B three Cetti’s Warblers, three Water Rails heard, two Kingfishers, a Buzzard, 35 Redwings, a Song Thrush, seven Goldfinches, six Long-tailed Tits and c1000 Starlings came in to roost in reeds opposite the hide. At Pit 85A 13 Teal, three Little Egrets, a Sparrowhawk, two Water Rails, one seen and one heard, a Green Sandpiper, seven Shovelers (4 m), six Tufted Ducks, four Moorhens, two Cetti’s Warblers, four Stonechats (2m 2f), two Little Egrets, 35 Goldfinches and eight Mallards. (John Fletcher).

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Wednesday 1st November 2017

Leckhampton Hill     An adult female SNOW BUNTING today until 1pm at least at SO950181 on the path from Brownstones Quarry car park, Hill Farm. (Richard Badley). Pics by Richard.Snow Bunting 011117 2

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Cotswold Water Park East     A first winter SCAUP still on Pit 125 at the car park end with c30 Tufted Ducks.  An adult WHOOPER SWAN still with 25 Mute Swans in a field N of Pit 132. (Duncan Dine).

Cleeve Hill     c100 Fieldfares with a few Redwings and Blackbirds below the heather enclosure this afternoon, also a female Kestrel. (Keith White).

Painswick Beacon     Migrant watch today included 24 Hawfinches, two RING OUZELS, 25 Golden Plovers, 26 Bramblings, 277 Redwings and 110 Fieldfares. (John Fleming).

Hidcote      Eight Hawfinches on hornbeam on the NT estate today. (Keith Jennings).

Deerhurst     In the area today c40 Fieldfares, a Great Crested Grebe floating down the River Severn, a Buzzard and a few Jays. (Keith Bannister).

Arlingham     A Barn Owl hunting in orchard N of Arlingham SO710118 at 5pm tonight. (Antony Seabright).

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Tuesday 31st October 2017

Forest of Dean     At Crabtree Hill the GREAT GREY SHRIKE with a Coal Tit which it impaled, also a Goshawk here. Seven Crossbills at Yew Tree Brake, four Hawfinches at Parkend and a fairly heavy movement of Fieldfares and Redwings. (Terry Grant/Nick Hopkinson). Pics by Terry.Great Grey Shrike 1 311017

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WWT Slimbridge     A male and female Crossbill by the pool in front of the Holden Tower, both flew NW towards estuary. (Ashley Davies).

Cotswolds     At Syreford near Andoversford at midday a pair of Stonechats, 120 Lapwings, two Red Kites, a Kestrel, and c300 thrushes, mainly Fieldfares with a few Redwings in the field boundary bushes. At Shipton Oliffe a Red Kite and a Grey Wagtail. At Compton Abdale a Red Kite and a Stonechat at Chedworth old airfield. (Laurie Pierce).

Hawling     Late afternoon until dusk five Red Kite, a Barn Owl, a Kestrel, 30 Redwings, 93 Linnets, two Chaffinches and 25+ Starlings. (John Fletcher/Martin Greenish).

Cleeve Hill     c100 Fieldfares moving up the Sheepwash Valley this morning. (Duncan Dine).

Berkeley shore     This morning the Whimbrel still with a Curlew, 35 Lapwings and 13 Meadow Pipits on a newly ploughed field. (Geoff Moyser).

Cheltenham     Two Redwings this morning on yew trees in the garden in Westbourne Drive, off Pittville Circus Road. (Clare McNulty).

Selsley     VisMig between 7-9am included a Hawfinch, 250 Fieldfares, 160 Redwings, 155 Chaffinches, nine Bramblings and two Golden Plovers. (Francis Steuck).

Symonds Yat     From Yat Rock viewpoint the Peregrine pair, Buzzards, Redwings, a female Sparrowhawk, a Kingfisher, Ravens, Long-tailed Tits and Mistle Thrushes. Other sightings included Red Admiral butterflies, a Hornet and Fallow Deer. (Chris & Phil Andrews). Pic by Phil.Mistle Thrush 311017

Painswick Beacon     Migrant watch today included seven Hawfinches, 975 Fieldfares, 773 Redwings, 435 Chaffinches, 13 Bramblings, 249 Golden Plovers, 16 Siskins, nine Lesser Redpolls and ten Yellowhammers. (John Fleming).

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Monday 30th October 2017

Rodborough     A RING OUZEL bathing in the garden pond this morning at Little London. (Nigel Denman). Pic by Nigel.

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Cotswold Water Park East     An immature GREATER SCAUP on Pit 125 this morning. (Duncan Dine). Pic by Duncan. The adult Whooper Swan still in fields beyond the Barn with Mute Swans at Pit 132 also six Goosanders and two Green Sandpipers. (Nigel Pleass).

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Frampton pools     The Whooper Swan still on Court Lake at 2pm. Also two Kingfishers. (MK). Pic by Mike.Whooper Swan 301017

Painswick Beacon     Migrant watch from 7am-10:45am, three Hawfinches, 2350 Woodpigeons, 222 Fieldfares, 328 Redwings, 115 Chaffinches, nine Bramblings and 11 Lesser Redpolls. (John Fleming/Francis Steuck).

Cotswolds     Along the A40 between Shipton Oliffe and the Oxon Border at Burford 13 Red Kites and two Kestrels near the entrance to Sherborne Park. On a unclassified road near Aldsworth c150 Golden Plovers in flight near Leys Farm and a covey of five Grey Partridges in the same field. (Michael Cook).

Doverow Hill     A GREAT WHITE EGRET flying overhead towards Stroud at 9:50am, a patch tick. Also passing overhead several Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails. (Steve Kear).

Forest of Dean     The GREAT GREY SHRIKE on Crabtree Hill clear fell 1:30-3:15pm today, also a Hawfinch at Crown Lane, Parkend. (Rob Downes/Paul Rich).

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Sunday 29th October 2017

Great Barrington area     3+ Red Kites, a Little Owl, a Sparrowhawk, 24 Golden Plovers, 30+ Fieldfares, 10+ Redwings, a Stonechat and a Reed Bunting today. (Paul Rich). Pic by Paul.Red Kite 291017

Cotswold Water Park East     An adult Whooper Swan still at Pit 132 mid morning, also a Red Kite, a Green Sandpiper and 70+ Lapwings. (Jon Mercer). Pic by Jon. Also 30+ Mute Swans, 100+ Greylags, a Red Kite, four Little Egrets and 27 Mallards. At Pit 130 four Tufted Ducks, six Cormorants, 50+ Black-headed Gulls, 60+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Peregrine over. (Trevor & Sue Clayson).Whooper Swan 291017Sharpness     A MERLIN briefly this morning. (Andrew Jordan).

Frampton pools     Three Hawfinches, the Whooper Swan still on Court Lake, 850 Redwings, 70 Fieldfares, 24 Skylarks, 14 Song Thrushes, 15 Starlings, two Yellowhammers and two GCRP Common Cranes. (Nick Goatman).

Painswick Beacon     Migrant watch from 7am-11:30am, highlights a Red Kite, 16 Hawfinches, 225 Chaffinches, 1943 Redwings, 212 Fieldfares and four Reed Buntings. (John Fleming).

Northleach     This morning at 11:30am 28 Golden Plovers feeding in a field adjacent to the Monarch’s Way path near Northleach at SP095144. (Dave Emery).

Birdlip     81 Golden Plovers in a field by the Birdlip bypass today. (Ian Ralphs).

Epney    Tonight four Ruff, 18 Golden Plovers and a Yellow-legged Gull. (Jeremy Squire).

WWT Slimbridge     The first two White-fronted Geese of the winter on the Tack Piece today. (Peter Taylor per Martin McGill).

Silk Wood     A Marsh Tit today. (Mark Hobson).

Quedgeley     A calling Raven sat on top of a light pole in Tesco’s car park at 4pm this afternoon. (Steve Pullen).

Cheltenham     An unusual urban female Pheasant spent the morning in a neighbour’s greenhouse at Benhall. (David Norman).

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Saturday 28th October 2017

Painswick Beacon     At 8am a ringtail Harrier flew past the Beacon heading SW. Migrant watch from 7:45am-2:45pm, included 33 Hawfinches, 396 Chaffinches, eight Bramblings, 845 Redwings, 322 Fieldfares, a Peregrine, 12 Buzzards, 254 Starlings and 13 Yellowhammers. (John Fleming).

Cotswold Water Park East     Seven Whooper Swans, six adults and a juvenile, at Pit 132 today, also a female Marsh Harrier and a Green Sandpiper. (Nigel Pleass).

Cleeve Hill     A ringtail Harrier on near to the heather plantation this morning at 11am. (Monica Davis). A Hawfinch N over Cleeve dropped into Breakheart Plantation, also two Little Egrets, a Lesser Redpoll, a Snipe and 250 Fieldfares at the top of the Sheepwash this morning. (Ian Ralphs). Also a male Blackcap by Tithe Barn at Postlip Hall. (Tony Coatsworth).

Stroud     11 Hawfinches over Horns Road this morning, and two over Bowbridge. Also three Golden Plovers, a Yellowhammer, a Brambling, 22 Fieldfares, 60 Redwings, five Song Thrushes and eight Siskins. (Francis Steuck).

Leckhampton Hill     VisMig this morning included a Lesser Redpoll, two Siskins, a Yellowhammer, a Meadow Pipit, ten Linnets, 14 Goldcrests, c40 Chaffinches, c30 Blackbirds, 17 Fieldfares and nine Redwings. (Chris Furley).

Cirencester     A Little Owl near Cirencester Park this morning. (Chris Snook). Pic by Chris.Little Owl 281017

Coombe Hill Meadows     Six Wigeon, 120+ Teal, ten Shovelers, nine Grey Herons, two Snipe, a female Stonechat, 15 Fieldfares and 40 Redwings. Nearby ten Long-tailed Tits on Severn Ham. (Mike Smart).

Symonds Yat     The Peregrine pair and an intruding juvenile Peregrine, a female Goshawk, a female Sparrowhawk, Buzzards, Ravens, eight Mandarins (4m,4f), Stock Doves, Long-tailed Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jays, Siskins, seven Hawfinches, Fieldfares, Redwings, a Greenfinch, and Linnets. Also Hornets, Red Admiral butterflies, a Fallow Deer rutting and a doe with two fawns. (Chris & Phil Andrews).

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Friday 27th October 2017

Forest of Dean     This afternoon at Crabtree Hill/Yew Tree Brake a GREAT GREY SHRIKE, five Goldcrests, 30 Coal Tits, four Siskins, five Nuthatches, four Stonechats, seven Jays, two Ravens, 20 Goldfinches, three Buzzards and a Kestrel. (John Fletcher/Martin Greenish/Arron Roberts). Pic by John.Great Grey Shrike 271017

Aylburton Warth     On this afternoon’s high tide, 360 Curlews (45 with colour rings), a Bar-tailed Godwit, 35 Lapwings, 30 Golden Plovers, 21 Turnstones, five Knot and 160 Dunlins. (John Sanders).

Berkeley shore     A Hawfinch over NE this morning, five Redwings, a Whimbrel, two Wheatears still, a Black-tailed Godwit, 38 Turnstones, two Stonechats, a Rock Pipit and the MERLIN over the Pill this afternoon. (Paul Taylor).

Painswick Beacon     VisMig this morning between 8-10am 41 Hawfinches, 72 Bramblings, 28 Lesser Redpolls, 350 Redwings and 320 Chaffinches. (Francis Steuck).

Compton Abdale     Six Hawfinches in Hornbeams today. (Dave Pearce).

Hawling     Near the A436/B4068 junction c50 Golden Plovers seen in flight, c10 Lapwings in a field nearby and a few Red Admirals seen. (Keith White).

Ashley     At noon a Little Owl perched on a small fence 10 feet from the road next to Ashley barn in the village. (Keith Williams, BOC).

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Thursday 26th October 2017

Stonehouse     Two late Spotted Flycatchers feeding on flying insects, from tree tops, near St Cyr’s Church at 11:30 today, SO8004. (Martin Wright).

Cotswold Water Park West     At Shorncote Reedbed at lunchtime today a Little Egret, three Shovelers, ten Teal, 25 Gadwalls, three Water Rails, a Green Sandpiper, two Green Woodpeckers, a Kingfisher, a Jay, a Raven, 12 Meadow Pipits, four Grey Wagtails, nine Song Thrushes, five Redwings, two Stonechats, ten Reed Buntings, 28 Lesser Redpolls, 70 Goldfinches, 15 Linnets, eight Cetti’s Warblers and three Goldcrests. (Jon Mercer).

Cotswolds     c100-150 Golden Plovers in flight near Winstone this afternoon and six Redwings on the Polo pitch at Duntisbourne. (Michael Cook).

Hardwicke     This afternoon two Chiffchaffs, 13 Long-tailed Tits, seven Blue Tits, three Great Tits and a Coal Tit in shrubbery at Quadrant Way, and a juvenile Sparrowhawk perched in a Oak tree adjacent. (Michael Cook).

Berkeley shore     A JACK SNIPE, 24 Snipe, two Stonechats, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff this morning. (Paul Taylor).

Epney     A Yellow-legged Gull and three Ruff on the sands this evening. (Jeremy Squire).

Frampton      Between 8-9:30am passage included 57 Lesser Redpolls, a Brambling, two Fieldfares, 100 Chaffinches and 100 Redwings. (Francis Steuck).

May Hill     A Parakeet species, probably Ring-necked, sat in the top of a tree calling today. (Rob Guest).

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Wednesday 25th October 2017

Cleeve Hill     The GREAT GREY SHRIKE below the heather enclosure at 3:30pm, also a Fieldfare. (Steve Owen). Also the RING OUZEL still early afternoon. (John Mills).

Berkeley shore     This morning a MERLIN, two Wheatears, a Whimbrel, 30+ Meadow Pipits but no sign of yesterday’s Red-throated Pipit. (Paul Taylor/MK). Merlin pic by Paul, Wheatear by Mike.Merlin 251017

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Shurdington     A Red-throated Pipit reported NW over Shurdington at 8:35am per  but no further details.

Coombe Hill Meadows     A Wheatear still today. (Ian Hull).

Forest of Dean     At Parkend from Crown Lane SO613079 a Goshawk over, 20 Redwings and a Nuthatch. Birds at Nagshead included two Coal Tits, four Siskins, two Bullfinches, nine Goldfinches, a Treecreeper, three Jays, two Nuthatches heard and two Ravens. (John Fletcher).

Gloucester     At Horsebere Brook Flood Storage Lake (full WEBs count) three adult Mute Swans, 14 Mallards, a Grey Heron, a juvenile Little Grebe, a Buzzard, seven Moorhens, four Coots, 11 Black-headed Gulls and two Reed Buntings. Also 65 Starlings, 12 Goldfinches, 20 Linnets and 25 Meadow Pipits feeding on plough just above the reserve. (Gordon Avery).

Witcombe Reservoirs     Three Little Grebes, a Barnacle Goose and a male Peregrine today. (Gordon Avery).

Shab Hill     A female Stonechat and four Skylarks including two singing males. (Gordon Avery).

Cotswolds     c30 Linnets about a mile S of Compton Abdale. Two RUFF and 80 Lapwings between  Syreford and the A436. (Laurie Pierce).

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