Saturday 5th April 2025

Frampton pools     The drake RING-NECKED DUCK still on Court Lake today. (Oliver Paisey/Tom Griffin). From Splatt Bridge 89 Sand Martins, 11 Swallows, a House Martin, 109 Woodpigeons and 12 Redshanks. An OSPREY N over Fretherne bridge at 12:30pm. (Gordon Hodgson). An OSPREY over Court Lake at 12 midday today, probably the same. (Tom Griffin). An OSPREY over the Sailing Lake at 6:30pm. Also six Willow Warblers, 52 Chiffchaffs, 27 Blackcaps, a Cetti’s Warbler, a Great White Egret, four Oystercatchers, 150+ Sand Martins, eight Swallows, 100+ Linnets, 50+ Goldfinches, 12 Yellowhammers, four Shovelers, eight Gadwalls and 50 Tufted Ducks. (Nick Goatman).

Osprey by Gordon Hodgson 

Saul Warth     An immature White-tailed Eagle at 11am then flew towards the  100-Acre. Then in view again from 11:45am-12 midday before being lost to view. (Gordon Hodgson/MK). This morning five Dark-bellied Brent Geese still, four Wigeon, 52 Shelducks, 33 Curlews, ten Ringed Plovers, six Dunlins, two Oystercatchers, a Red Kite and a male Marsh Harrier through N, a female Marsh Harrier, 76 Sand Martins, two Swallows, five Meadow Pipits and two Chiffchaffs. (Gordon Hodgson/MK/Jeremy Holland/Jon Dexter).

White-tailed Eagle by Gordon Hodgson

White-tailed Eagle by Gordon Hodgson

WWT Slimbridge     A Spotted Redshank on the Rushy this morning and two Grey Plovers from Estuary Tower and two House Martins through. (Jeremy Holland). The immature White-tailed Eagle seen and arriving and leaving the estuary from WWT.

Cleeve Hill     A RING OUZEL in gorse E of the trig point today. (Dave Pearce).

Cotswold Water Park West     A pair of GARGANEYS at Shorncote Reedbed this morning. (David Creber).

Cotswold Water Park East     This morning at Whelford Pools and nearby, between 8:45-10:30am, the male LESSER SCAUP still with Tufted Ducks, c20 Red Crested Pochards, c30 Sand Martins, two Willow Warblers singing, c15 Shovelers, two Oystercatchers, three Swallows, a Treecreeper, a Reed Bunting, c6 Wigeon, two Egyptian Geese, two Little Grebes and a Gadwall. (Rob Crofton).

Barnsley Warren (Pasqueflower Reserve)     At lunchtime a Lapwing, several Skylarks, two Meadow Pipits, a Kestrel, two Red Kites and a good number of Pasqueflowers already flowering. (Rob Crofton).

Stanley Downton      A male Wheatear on the disturbed ground W of the sewage works. (Matt Neale).

Coombe Hill Meadows     This morning a Wheatear on arable land and 78 Wigeon. Also a Mute Swan, ten Greylags, six Canada Geese, four Shelducks, 78 Wigeon, 14 Teal, 30 Mallards, four Shovelers, a Cormorant, a Dutch bird with red colour ring 4Z, seen here previously, three Grey Herons, a Little Egret, four Great White Egrets, two Oystercatchers three Avocets, six Lapwings, a Little Ringed Plover flew through, a JACK SNIPE, two Curlews, two Redshanks, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 50 Black-headed Gulls, two Skylarks, a Wheatear on an arable field, a REDSTART in the North hedge, two Blackcaps, seven Chiffchaffs, 48+ Carrion Crows and a Reed Bunting. (Mike Smart/Ian Ralphs).

Berkeley    Four LITTLE GULLS N past the Pill at 9:57am. (Andy Jordan).

Forest of Dean    3+ male TREE PIPITS singing at Staple Edge today. (Robin Husbands).

Rodborough Common     An early Green Hairstreak today. (Dan Haines).

Green Hairstreak by Dan Haines
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Saturday 5th April 2025

Friday 4th April 2025

Frampton pools     The drake RING-NECKED DUCK still on Court Lake today. Also two House Martins and a Swallow. (Andy Chapman/Geoff Moyser/Duncan Dine/Martin Price/Rob & Petra Crofton/Tan Grigg). Three LITTLE GULLS on the sailing lake early morning. (Andy Chapman).

Cotswold Water Park East     The drake LESSER SCAUP still on Pit 111 at Whelford today. Also two male Red Crested Pochards. (Geoff Fawcett).

WWT Slimbridge    A pale morph and a dark morph ARCTIC SKUA flew N at 2:33pm. Two Greenshanks from Zeiss hide and two SPOONBILLS on the Tack Piece. (Ian Hull). An OSPREY flew N over Knott hide at 1:50pm. (Oliver Paisey). Five Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew upriver past WWT and landed on the sands to the N. (Martin McGill). A Goshawk perched at the Rushy and three House Martins over the Rushy. (Tim McGrath). A Spotted Redshank on the Tack Piece and later the Rushy. 12 Cattle Egrets on South Lake. (Oliver Paisey).

Saul Warth     This evening a dark morph ARCTIC SKUA flew NE along the Frampton bank at 5:55pm then cut inland towards the escarpment. The five Dark-bellied Brent Geese still, a Red Kite flew through N, 163 Shelducks, 42 Curlews, six Oystercatchers and six Grey Herons. Also two Small Tortoiseshells, a Brimstone and a Green-veined White. (MK). Also this morning seven Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers and two Red Kites. (Mike Davis).

Dark-bellied Brent Geese by Mike King

Small Tortoiseshell by Mike King

Cleeve Hill     Two HOBBIES seen well in flight and appeared to be interacting together at Postlip. (Jon Parker).

Maisemore     Five Little Ringed Plovers at the Leadon Meadows near Maisemore this evening. (Andy Jayne).

Gloucester     A Swallow at Horsebere Brook this morning. (Ken Hurcombe).

Adsett     At Apple Orchard Campsite this morning a Red Kite circling overhead, a Sparrowhawk hunting and ten Pied Wagtails. (Martin & Jenny Green).

Stowell     This morning in the Coln valley two Swallows, three Mandarins, four Buzzards, four Red Kites and a pair of Ravens. Also a Brimstone and a Peacock butterfly. (Harvey Sherwood).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Friday 4th April 2025

Thursday 3rd April 2025

Frampton pools     The drake RING-NECKED DUCK still on Court Lake this morning. Also a drake Mandarin. (MK). Also around the pools today 55 Tufted Ducks, 15 Gadwalls, four Shovelers, a Teal, a Red Kite over the sailing lake, a Black Swan, a Water Rail heard, a Willow Warbler, 25 Chiffchaffs, 18 Blackcaps, four Cetti’s Warblers, eight Sand Martins, six Swallows, two Oystercatcher and 26 Meadow Pipits. (Nick Goatman/Steve Pullen).

Ring-necked Duck by Jon Mercer

Ring-necked Duck by Mike King

A Greenshank on the flashes N of Splatt Bridge at 7:30am. View only from the towpath. (MK). Also 15 Redshanks, two Ruff, a Little Egret, two Common Cranes, a pair of Mandarins N, a Chiffchaff, eight Meadow Pipits N and two Swallows. (MK/Gordon Hodgson).

Greenshank by Mike King

WWT Slimbridge     A BITTERN seen from Martin Smith Hide and Robbie Garnett 1pm until 2pm then flew towards the Willow hide. Two SPOONBILLS from Robbie Garnett hide. A male HEN HARRIER flew through the reserve at 12:49-12:55pm, then continued to Saul Warth then inland over the woods. (Martin McGill). Seen from Splatt towpath by Jeremy Holland.

Forest of Dean    At Woorgreens this afternoon an OSPREY and two Swallows flying low and N at 3:30pm. (Steve Kear).

Saul Warth     At high tide today, at least three LITTLE GULLS on the top of the tide, also seven Grey Plovers, a Bar Tailed Godwit, a Redshank, four Oystercatchers, 20+ Curlews and 30+ Dunlins. Nine Swallows headed inland from the river and 20+Meadow Pipits. (Steve Pullen).

Highnam     A House Martin over the garden today. (Tom Berry).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Thursday 3rd April 2025

Wednesday 2nd April 2025

Frampton pools     A drake RING-NECKED DUCK on Court Lake this evening. (Nick Goatman).

Ring-necked Duck by Nick Goatman

Cotswold Water Park East     The drake LESSER SCAUP still on Pit 111 at Whelford this morning. (Richard Tyler).

Lesser Scaup by Richard Tyler

Saul Warth     At high tide 23 Shelducks, six Shovelers, 43 Curlews, two Grey Plovers, two Ringed Plovers, 42 Dunlins, six Oystercatchers, a Redshank, a Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel and a Chiffchaff. (MK).

Coombe Hill Meadows     This afternoon 60 Wigeon, four Shelducks, 20+ Lapwings, two Curlews, four Buzzards, a Red Kite, two Great White Egret, two Little Egrets, a male Blackcap, two Bullfinches, 6+ Chiffchaffs and four Roe Deer. (Paul Clark).

Lydney    At Lydney Harbour lakes ten Tufted Ducks, three Great Crested Grebes, six Sand Martins and a Swallow. Between here and Aylburton Warth 16 Golden Plovers flew N and another 104 feeding, an Oystercatcher, five Dunlins, 100+ Curlews, a Red Kite, a Raven, six Swallows and a pair of Stonechats. (Andy Jayne).

Prestbury     A Whitethroat in the village today, a Willow Warbler, double figures of Chiffchaffs calling, a Red Kite and a Buzzard. (Ken Heron).

Chavenage Lane area    A Buzzard, four Dunnocks, four Goldfinches, four Blue Tits, three Chaffinches and two Chiffchaffs heard. (Mil Petkovic).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Wednesday 2nd April 2025

Tuesday 1st April 2025

Frampton    15 LITTLE GULLS on the sailing lake from 12:45am until mid afternoon. (Gordon Hodgson et al). Also two Swallows, four Sand Martins, 28 Fieldfares, 20 Linnets, a male Reed Bunting, five Shovelers, 50 Tufted Ducks and two Oystercatchers. (Nick Goatman). Splatt Bridge at first light today a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, 50+ Curlews, two Oystercatchers, four Redshanks, two Shovelers, seven Gadwalls, eight Shelducks and 12 Mallards on the flashes, and two Mute Swans and a Kingfisher on the canal. (Steve Pullen).

Little Gulls by Mark Dowie 

Little Gulls with Black-headed Gulls by Mike King

Little Gulls by Mike King

Saul Warth     12 LITTLE GULLS flew NE through Saul Warth at 10:30am with a few Black-headed Gulls. A Red Kite flew through NW over Awre at 10:15am. (Les Ditchburn/MK). At high tide a male Marsh Harrier flushed 30 Teal from the Warth, and eight more on the river, 32 Shelducks, 27 Curlews, three Grey Plovers, five Ringed Plovers, nine Dunlins, a Common Sandpiper, six Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, four Skylarks, five Sand Martins, four Meadow Pipits and two Chiffchaffs. (MK).

WWT Slimbridge    Five LITTLE GULLS flew up river and cut inland past Estuary Tower at 11:20am. (Paul Rich). From South Finger a male Goshawk with a Moorhen kill this morning, then flew S with it.

Wotton-Under-Edge     Three Swallows flew across the playing fields at 3:30pm. (Jon Dexter).

Leckhampton     A Red Kite near Pilley Bridge at 8:30am and later a pair of Buzzards drifted S. A Raven through and two more over the Eagle Tower. From Burrows Field to the church another Raven, a Green Woodpecker, a Greenfinch and several singing Chiffchaffs. Also three Peacock Butterflies. (Steve Brown).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Tuesday 1st April 2025

Monday 31st March 2025

Cleeve Hill    A female-type BLACK REDSTART 200m to the right of the radio masts on the wall by the white trig point at 10:55am until 12:45pm at least. (Duncan Dine). This evening ten Golden Plovers, two Corn Buntings and two Stonechats. (Tom Mabbett).

WWT Slimbridge     Two Little Ringed Plovers and two SPOONBILLS on the Tack Piece. (Ian Hull). A Willow Warbler this morning at Decoy hide. (Nigel Young).

Willow Warbler by Nigel Young

Coombe Hill Meadows     This morning eight Avocets, two Little Egrets, a Great White Egret and a Redshank. (Les Ditchburn).

Saul Warth     Early am until high tide 55 Shelducks, a pair of Shovelers, two pairs of Gadwalls, 30 Curlews, five Oystercatchers, a Redshank, a female Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, two Reed Buntings, two Chiffchaffs and 12 Fieldfares. (MK).

Frampton pools     A Red Kite, three Willow Warblers, 42 Chiffchaffs, 25 Blackcaps, three Cetti’s Warbler, two Oystercatchers, 65 Tufted Ducks, four Gadwalls, 14 Cormorants, 12 Greylags, 18 Canada Geese, 18 Barnacle Geese, the Ross’s Goose and 27 Mute Swans today. (Nick Goatman).

Chipping Campden     In fields between Chipping Campden and Broad Campden, ten Skylarks, two Chiffchaffs, a singing male Blackcap, a Stonechat, two pairs of Yellowhammers, a Red Kite, a Buzzard and a Raven. (Malcolm Dunn).

Stonehouse     At Stanley Downton and the Ocean Pied and Grey Wagtails, lots of singing Chiffchaffs, three Buzzards, a Kestrel, c5 Greenfinches and a Cormorant. (Paul Sutton).

Greenfinch by Paul Sutton
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Monday 31st March 2025

Sunday 30th March 2025

Sharpness     A male COMMON SCOTER drifting up on the tide at 8:50am, but went back south soon after. Also a Common Sandpiper, 23 Redshanks, a Curlew, a Kingfisher, a Little Egret, 15 Wigeon, two Teal, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Chiffchaffs, five Oystercatchers, a Reed Bunting and a Rock Pipit. (Oliver Paisey).

WWT Slimbridge     An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL on South Lake this morning. (Ian Sherriffs).

Mediterranean Gull by Ian Sherriffs

Chedworth     A male Wheatear on the airfield again today. (Ian Sherriffs).

Wheatear by Ian Sherriffs

Forest of Dean     A male and a female Crossbill at Mallard’s Pike today. (Danny Sturgeon & Rosy Heywood).

Saul Warth     Early morning at high tide a male Marsh Harrier came up to Hock Cliff, 34 Shelducks, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, seven Oystercatchers, 12 Curlews, four Meadow Pipits, four Skylarks, two Chiffchaffs and a male Reed Bunting. (MK).

Elmore Court     In the rewilding area this afternoon birds included 14 Teal, six Gadwalls, four Lapwings, seven Snipe, two Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, 14 Fieldfares over, eight Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap. Butterflies included a Brimstone, a Holly Blue, Peacocks and a Comma. (Steve Pullen).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Sunday 30th March 2025

Saturday 29th March 2025

Cotswold Water Park East     The drake LESSER SCAUP still on Pit 111 at Whelford today. (per BirdGuides).

Cotswold Water Park West     At Shorncote Reedbeds three Willow Warblers, ten Chiffchaffs, 30+ Sand Martins and two Blackcaps today. (David Creber).

Frampton pools     Five Willow Warblers, 34 Chiffchaffs, 15 Blackcaps, four Cetti’s Warblers, 50+ Sand Martins, a Swallow, 28 Linnets, two Meadow Pipits, a Raven, nine Gadwalls, four Shovelers, a Teal, 90 Tufted Ducks, a Ross’s Goose, 80 Barnacle Geese, 12 Canada Geese and 30 Greylags today. (Nick Goatman).

WWT Slimbridge     A MEDITERRANEAN GULL from the Estuary Tower. The wild drake Goldeneye in the Eider pool. (Oliver Paisey). Ten Golden Plovers in the field to the right of the Kingfisher hide. (Tim McGrath). Ten White-fronted Geese on the Dumbles. (Jeanne Vitkovskis). 83 Avocets and two SPOONBILLS on South Lake. (Dot Jones).

Saul Warth     At high tide from 6am, 42 Shelducks, 31 Curlews, nine Oystercatchers, the first passage Common Sandpiper, a male Marsh Harrier, a Little Egrets, three Chiffchaffs and on passage just one Meadow Pipit and two Reed Buntings through. (MK).

Chedworth     A Wheatear on the airfield this afternoon. (Duncan Dine).

Sharpness     A Marsh Harrier flew north at 1pm followed 1 minute later by a Red Kite. (Andy Jordan).

Coombe Hill Meadows      This morning 30 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 40 Mallards, two Grey Herons, two Little Egrets, four Coots, four Avocets, six Lapwings, two Curlews, three Redshanks, two Black-headed Gulls, five Skylarks, three Sand Martins, two Swallows, a Blackcap, three Willow Warblers, four Chiffchaffs, 100 Carrion Crows and three Reed Buntings. (Mike Smart/Ian Ralphs).

Cobney Meadows     A Mute Swan, two Canada Geese, 20 Mallards, a Grey Heron, two Curlews, two Chiffchaffs and two Long-tailed Tits. Five Mute Swans at Haw Bridge East. (Mike Smart).

Winchcombe     Three Lesser Redpolls feeding in a silver birch tree in a private garden this morning. (Peter Rodgers).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Saturday 29th March 2025

Friday 28th March 2025

Cotswold Water Park East     The drake LESSER SCAUP still on Pit 111 at Whelford today. (Paul Rich).

Cotswold Water Park West     Ten Sand Martins over Pit 57 today. (David Creber).

Berkeley shore     A Wheatear and 74 Turnstones this morning. (Paul Taylor).

Saul Warth     At high tide from 6am, a non-breeding adult KITTIWAKE, 68 Shelducks, two Wigeon, 32 Curlews, four Dunlins, 15 Oystercatchers, a Kestrel, three Buzzards, male and female Marsh Harrier hunting the Warth and a migrant female type flew straight through, three Little Egrets, a Great White Egret, two Chiffchaffs and a Raven mobbed by corvids. (Martin McGill/MK). A first-winter LITTLE GULL off of the Dumbles at 7am viewed from Hock Ditch. (Martin McGill).

Marsh Harrier by Mike King

WWT Slimbridge     Two SPOONBILLS on the Tack Piece. From the Estuary Tower two Little Stints and six White-fronted Geese on the scrape and a White Wagtail. 91 Avocets and 74 Black-tailed Godwits on South Lake. A Willow Warbler along the Estuary walkway. Five Golden Plovers on the Bottom New Piece. (Ian Hull/Dot Jones).

Frampton    20+ Sand Martins and two Swallows on the sailing lake early morning. (Nick Goatman).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Friday 28th March 2025

Thursday 27th March 2025

Cotswold Water Park East     The drake LESSER SCAUP still on Pit 111 this afternoon at Whelford. Also two Red Crested Pochards. (Richard Williams).

Newbridge     A COMMON WHITETHROAT this morning. (Keith Jennings).

Lydney     Two Wheatears this morning along the river from the harbour. (David Smith).

Saul Warth     At high tide from 6am, 55 Shelducks, two Teal, 41 Curlews, two Avocets, eight Oystercatchers, four Buzzards, three distant Marsh Harriers, a Little Egret, 24 Fieldfares, a Redwing, two Skylarks, four Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler by the road. (MK). At 7:30am an adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL flew upriver and landed briefly. (Martin Wightman). Later an adult LITTLE GULL went downstream and was lost beyond Frampton breakwater. (Gordon Hodgson/Martin Wightman). Also a Red Kite this morning. (Steve Pullen).

Mediterranean Gull by Mike King

Oystercatchers by Mike King

Frampton     At the sailing lake 20+ Sand Martins, six Swallows, a Yellow-legged Gull, five Herring Gulls, 86 Black-headed Gulls and two Ravens early afternoon. (Nick Goatman).

WWT Slimbridge    On the Tack Piece two SPOONBILLS. From the Estuary Tower two Little Stints on the scrape and ten White-fronted Geese remain. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Thursday 27th March 2025