Thursday 13th February 2025

WWT Slimbridge     On the Rushy this morning 72 Bewick’s Swans, two WHOOPER SWANS and a Black Swan this morning. 24 Ruff on the Tack Piece. Two Little Stints and a Ringed Plover on the Estuary Tower scrape and on the Dumbles six Oystercatchers. On South Lake the SPOONBILL, five Cattle Egrets, 21 Common Gulls and 40 Golden Plovers. (Slimbridge Sightings/Roberta Goodall/Martin Price).

Forest of Dean     At Cannop ponds a Dipper, a Marsh Tit, a Goosander, 12 Mandarins and six Little Grebes. 5+ Hawfinches at Parkend with 20+ Chaffinches and three Nuthatches. At Woorgreens, eight Goosanders, five Teal, two Jays and four Treecreepers. (Steve Pullen/Angela Carswell).

Highnam woods     This afternoon two Marsh Tits, two Goldcrests, a Song Thrush, two Nuthatches, male and female Bullfinch, three Chaffinches, six Long-tailed Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, seven Fieldfares and a Buzzard. (John Fletcher).

Newent Woods      Low numbers of birds from dawn, a Goldcrest, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Jays, a Nuthatch and two Muntjacs. At May Hill summit a Linnet, a Siskin and a Raven. (MK).

Raven by Mike King

Cobney Meadows     Six Mute Swans, two Shelducks, 300 Teal, 25 Wigeon, two Grey Herons, 50 Black-headed Gulls and 45 Stock Doves today. (Mike Smart).

Hartpury     Three Tufted Ducks (2m,1f), four Mallards, 27 Greylags, 20 Canada Geese, two Cormorants, three Moorhens, a Grey Heron, 8+ Redwings, two Mistle Thrushes, a Song Thrush, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay, 30 Starlings, two Goldfinches, two Stock Doves and 20+ Common Gulls today. (Oliver Paisey).

Stonehouse     In the Bond’s Mill area and fields below late afternoon a Peregrine distant on a pylon, eight Cormorants, a small flock of Siskins with Goldfinches, being followed by a small mixed tit flock and a Grey Heron. (Paul Sutton).

Gloucester     c1000 Starlings leaving a nearby roost over Sudmeadow roundabout at 7:19am. (MK).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Thursday 13th February 2025

Wednesday 12th February 2025

Tresham     A female type BLACK REDSTART today, a patch tick. Also three Corn Buntings and two Red Kites. (Paul Rich).

WWT Slimbridge     The GLOSSY IBIS still in roadside fields today. On South Lake the SPOONBILL, a drake Goldeneye, two Oystercatchers and six Avocets. A Little Stint still on the Estuary Tower scrape. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Lydney     A MERLIN at 4pm this afternoon on farmland near Lydney. (Ant Dobbs).

Notgrove     From Diamond Way bridle path at Raspberry Brake near Notgrove SP0919 feeding in a field 110 Fieldfares, 90 Starlings, 29 Goldfinches, 34 Yellowhammers and a pair of Stonechats by the stream. Overhead ten Ravens, nine Red Kites, six Buzzards and two Kestrels. (Harvey Sherwood).

Berkeley shore     Turnstone and Rock Pipit on the river at Severn House Farm today. (Roberta Goodall).

Coombe Hill Meadows     This morning two Gadwalls, two Great White Egrets, 12+ Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, three Common Gulls, a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier, three Bullfinches, four Skylarks and 13 Long-tailed Tits. (Paul Clark/John Fletcher/Jake King).

Stroud     At Stratford Park lake a pair of Mandarins and two Stock Doves. (Geoff Moyser).

Norton     Two Little Egrets on a flooded roadside field this morning. (John Fletcher).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Wednesday 12th February 2025

Tuesday 11th February 2025

WWT Slimbridge     The GLOSSY IBIS still in roadside fields today. On South Lake the SPOONBILL, five Oystercatchers and six Avocets. Two WHOOPER SWANS and 72 Bewick’s Swans early morning. (Slimbridge Sightings/Magnus Carter). Two Little Stints still on the Estuary Tower scrape. A Pink-footed Goose flew N, presumably the long-staying bird of unknown origin. Seven Common Cranes on the Tack Piece, five unringed including a juvenile. (Warren Gill).

Wisloe     A Red Kite over near the roundabout over the A38 this morning. (Magnus Carter).

Ashleworth Ham     34 Shovelers, four Gadwalls, 21 Pintails, two Tufted Ducks, 21 Mallards, 17 Teal, 95 Wigeon, 89 Lapwings, seven Canada Geese and five Greylags, 45 Fieldfares, a Buzzard, a Peregrine, six Mute Swans and a Red Kite. (John Fletcher).

Coombe Hill Meadows     Five Mute Swans, 150 Greylags, an Egyptian Goose, 500 Wigeon, 1500 Teal, ten Gadwalls, 50 Mallards, 120 Pintails, 220 Shovelers, six Tufted Ducks, six Little Egrets, a Great White Egret, 12 Coots, 142 Lapwings, two drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers, c1000 Woodpigeons, a Skylark, a Song Thrush singing and a Reed Bunting. (Mike Smart).

Twyning     On Upham Meadow five Mute Swans, 104 Canada Geese, a Peregrine, two Fieldfares an d 20 Carrion Crows. (Mike Smart).

Tewkesbury     At Mythe Hook 70 Canada Geese, 26 Shelducks, 40 Wigeon, 40 Mallards, a Shoveler, six Tufted Ducks, a Little Egret, a Great White Egret, 450 Lapwings and 200 Linnets. (Mike Smart).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Tuesday 11th February 2025

Monday 10th February 2025

WWT Slimbridge     On South Lake the SPOONBILL, later on the Rushy, two drake Goldeneyes, two Oystercatchers and six Avocets. Two WHOOPER SWANS and 72 Bewick’s Swans early morning. A Firecrest along South Finger. A Little Stint from Estuary Tower. (Slimbridge Sightings/Ed Betteridge/Ian Hull). A male and a female Goosander flew high over the South Finger reedbed towards the estuary this afternoon. (Ed Betteridge).

Forest of Dean     Seven Hawfinches at Parkend today in poor weather. (Thomas Winstone).

Wotton-Under-Edge     At Nind Lane at least one Lesser Redpoll with c40 Siskins. Also a Treecreeper, a Nuthatch, a Goldcrest, a Little Egret and a Sparrowhawk. (Paul Rich).

Winchcombe     Belated news of five Mandarins (3m, 2f) on a lake at SP036266 on the 7th February 2025. (Juliet Bailey).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Monday 10th February 2025

Sunday 9th February 2025

WWT Slimbridge     On South Lake the SPOONBILL, four Cattle Egrets, four Oystercatchers, a drake Goldeneye and six Avocets The GLOSSY IBIS in roadside fields again. Two WHOOPER SWANS and 72 Bewick’s Swans early morning. (Slimbridge Sightings/Heather England).

Hazelton     This afternoon five Corn Buntings and 5+ Bramblings feeding with 50+ Chaffinches near to the village. Also in the area 18 Golden Plovers over, two Kestrels, two Red Kites and six Red-legged Partridges. (Steve Pullen).

Forest of Dean     A Brambling with six Chaffinches and three Reed Buntings this morning at Crabtree Hill. (Frank Williams).

Kingscote     c200 Golden Plovers at ST802961 at 11:20am. (Vic Polley).

Frampton pools    20+ Skylarks in the second field south of the sailing lake, the Yellow-legged Gull on the sailing lake but  chased off by a Herring Gull, 13 Little Egrets in the roost this evening and two Tawny Owls calling. (Nick Goatman).

Halmore     Around the woods today several drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Bullfinch, two Greenfinches, two Ravens, two Jays, two Coal Tits, a Goldcrest, five Redwings, two Mistle Thrushes, a Fieldfare, a Nuthatch, a Treecreeper, a ringed male Kingfisher, two Buzzards, a hunting Sparrowhawk, and Common Cranes heard flying over. (Chris Newton).

Kingfisher by Chris Newton

Cheltenham    This morning a male Sparrowhawk perched on the garden fence in Benhall. (David Norman).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Sunday 9th February 2025

Saturday 8th February 2025

Coombe Hill Meadows     The drake RING-NECKED DUCK again today with 35 Tufted Ducks. Also today three Marsh Harriers, two Oystercatchers, five Mute Swans, 20 Canada Geese, at least 100 Wigeon, two Gadwall, many hundreds of Teal, at least 100 Pintails, at least 100 Shovelers, 20 Lapwings, 30 Snipe, a Kingfisher, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Greenfinches, 2/3 Bullfinches and a Reed Bunting, a Dunnock and a Song Thrush singing. (Jeremy Holland/Mike Smart/Steve Brwon/Greg Mabbett).

WWT Slimbridge     On South Lake the SPOONBILL, 853 Lapwings, six Avocets, three Black-tailed Godwits and four Oystercatchers. (Helen Bojaniwska). The GLOSSY IBIS and two Egyptian Geese in roadside fields most of the day. A Little Stint from Estuary Tower. (Ian Ralphs/Paul Masters/Mark Hobson).

Egyptian Geese by Mike King

Leckhampton     At first light seven Ravens over high to the North in groups of 4, 2 and 1. (Steve Brown).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Saturday 8th February 2025

Friday 7th February 2025

Coombe Hill Meadows     The drake RING-NECKED DUCK still today from Grundon hide with Tufted Ducks and later moving to the Short Pool. (Ian Ralphs).

WWT Slimbridge     Five unringed adult Common Cranes from Robbie Garnett hide this morning, including a pair mating. An Egyptian Goose from Van de Bovenkamp hide. (Dot Jones). The GLOSSY IBIS still in roadside fields today. The SPOONBILL and ten Avocets on South Lake. A Water Rail from Willow hide. From Estuary Tower two Little Stints and 50 White-fronted Geese. (Tim Jukes). Two wild drake Goldeneyes in the Eider Pen again. (Oliver Paisey).

Slimbridge     16 Cattle Egrets in a field off of Kingston Road on the sharp bend by the substation this morning. (Oliver Paisey).

Forest of Dean     Two pairs of Goosanders on Speech House lake this morning. (Geoff Fawcett).

Northleach     A Red Kite over the A40 roundabout early afternoon. (Gord Avery).

Highnam     In the Lynton Farm area 127. Fieldfares, 75 Starlings, 240 Wood Pigeons, three Chaffinches, 21 Jackdaws, 26 Mallards, two Herring Gulls and two Shelducks. (John Fletcher).

Frampton pools     A Black Swan on the sailing lake at 2pm, for its 2nd day. (MK).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Friday 7th February 2025

Thursday 6th February 2025

Coombe Hill Meadows     The drake RING-NECKED DUCK still today straight in front of the Grundon hide with Tufted Ducks after the fog lifted. (Alan McIlquham).

Ring-necked Duck by Alan McIlquham

WWT Slimbridge     The SPOONBILL and seven Cattle Egrets on South Lake. Two WHOOPER SWANS with 70 Bewick’s Swans on the Rushy. A Little Stint on the Tack Piece. Two wild drake Goldeneyes in the Eider Pen. (Slimbridge Sightings/Oliver Paisey/Paul Clark).

Chedworth     Three Grey Partridges on the scrubby blackthorn boundary of the permanent pasture field at Middle Chedworth. at SP061109. (Harvey Sherwood).

Eastleach Downs     At the organic farm today three Corn Buntings, two Stonechats and 250+ Lapwings in fields. (Jamie Brown).

Forest of Dean     5+ Hawfinches at Parkend early morning. (Warren Gill).

Frampton pools     This morning two Goldeneyes, 30 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Teal, four Gadwalls, two Great Crested Grebes, a Common Gull, an Oystercatcher back but only heard in the fog, five Mistle Thrushes, seven Song Thrushes, two Redwings, three Bullfinches, two Blackcaps and a Cetti’s Warbler heard. (MK). Later when the fog cleared the returning pair of Oystercatchers seen. Also a Goshawk, 11 Little Egrets, seven Great Crested Grebes, a Little Grebe, two Reed Bunting and three Grey Herons. (Nick Goatman).

Redwing by Mike King

Hazleton    On the approach road from the Salperton direction on the corner by a gateway at SP0744518704 six Bramblings with 100 Chaffinches. Best viewed from your car as the flock is easily spooked. (Roger Gillespie).

Gloucester     A male BLACK REDSTART again in private gardens in the Linden area today. (John Fletcher).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Thursday 6th February 2025

Wednesday 5th February 2025

WWT Slimbridge    On South Lake the SPOONBILL, 19 Avocets and an Oystercatcher. Two wild drake Goldeneyes in the Eider Pen. 124 White-fronted Geese around the grounds today. A Little Stint and 18 Ruff on the Tack Piece. In Alders near the Back to the Brink exhibit a Lesser Redpoll and 12 Siskins. (Slimbridge Sightings/Oliver Paisey). The GLOSSY IBIS still in roadside fields today. (Paul Masters/Steve Brown). 20 Siskins by Hogarth hide. A Cetti’s Warbler singing in the car park. (Steve Brown). This morning two WHOOPER SWANS on the Rushy, the Black Swan, in close company with a Mute Swan, on the Rushy and Tack Piece, also the SPOONBILL and four Common Cranes. (Peter Rodgers).

Black Swan with Mute Swan by Peter Rodgers

Whooper Swan by Peter Rodgers

Slimbridge    At least 14 Cattle Egrets NW of Rectory Farm SO7351704084 this morning. (Paul Masters/Steve Brown).

Frampton pools     A Great White Egret, singing Song Thrushes, 30+ Siskins, 100+ Redwings, 150+ Fieldfares, a Woodcock, two Cetti’s Warblers, a Blackcap, six Skylarks, 30+ Starlings, three Teal, 64 Tufted Ducks, 16 Gadwalls, five Great Crested Grebes, a Little Grebe, nine Greylags, two Canada Geese and two Reed Buntings today. (Nick Goatman).

Cotswold Water Park West    Around the Lower Mill area 21 Goldeneyes,  six Goosanders, three Little Grebes, a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, a Tawny Owl, two Chiffchaffs, a Nuthatch, a Treecreeper, a Lesser Redpoll, 30+ Siskins and three Reed Buntings. Two more Goldeneyes at Pit 16. Around the Shorncote area up to 8 Water Rails calling and one seen, two Little Grebes, two Green Sandpipers, two Great White Egrets, a Little Egret, a Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk, six Cetti’s Warblers, 16 Chiffchaffs, two Stonechats and a Reed Bunting. (Andy Jayne). 20 Red Crested Pochards at Pit 44. (Roberta Goodall).

Calmsden     A Grey Partridge in the field at the junction of White Way and Dark Lane. (Roberta Goodall).

Grey Partridge by Roberta Goodall

Hazleton    On the approach road from the Salperton direction on the corner by a gateway at SP0744518704 a Brambling, two Corn Buntings and Red-legged Partridge with the Chaffinch flock. Best viewed from your car as the flock is easily spooked. (Roberta Goodall).

Hawling, Roel Gate     This morning four Skylarks together singing, 20+ Chaffinches feeding on stubble, seven Yellowhammers, two Buzzards and a Red Kite. (Andrew & Gill Worthington).

Forest of Dean     A Hawfinch back under garden bird feeders this morning in Coleford. (Geoff Fawcett).

Coombe Hill Meadows     Eight Mute Swans, 120 Greylags, 30 Canada Geese, 250 Wigeon, four Gadwalls, 1500 Teal, 40 Mallards, 220 Pintails, 220 Shovelers, 35 Tufted Ducks, a Grey Heron, five Coots, two Oystercatchers, seven Lapwings, five Skylarks, at least two singing, a Fieldfare, two singing Song Thrushes and five Reed Buntings. (Mike Smart).

Cobney Meadows     44 Shelducks, three Common Gulls and 300 Black-headed Gulls today. (Mike Smart).

Rodborough Common     A male Stonechat this morning and Skylarks singing. (Giles Diggle).

Stonechat by Giles Diggle

Cherington     Around the lake and surrounding area a Kingfisher, two Little Grebes, two Mallards, six Moorhens, five Cormorants, a Nuthatch, two Stock Doves, a Grey Heron and a Buzzard. (John Fletcher).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Wednesday 5th February 2025

Tuesday 4th February 2025

Coombe Hill Meadows     The drake RING-NECKED DUCK to the left of the Grundon hide with 25 Tufted Ducks at 10am. (Ian Hull).

Saul Warth     At high tide a Great White Egret, a Grey Heron, two Mute Swans, 32 Shelducks, 43 Curlews, six Lapwings, a Common Sandpiper, a Mistle Thrush, a Fieldfare, a Meadow Pipit, a Pied Wagtail and 6+ Chiffchaffs at the sewage works. (MK).

Fieldfare by Mike King

Slimbridge     15 Cattle Egrets in a field near Kingston Road/Lightenbrook Lane junction this morning. (Oliver Paisey).

WWT Slimbridge     On South Lake a male Goldeneye, 14 Avocets and two Oystercatchers. The SPOONBILL feeding on flash by Zeiss hide. The GLOSSY IBIS still in roadside fields today. (Magnus Carter/Oliver Paisey).

Dursley     A Dipper on the River Cam by the Vale Hospital in Lister Road at 10am. (Paul Rich).

Berkeley     On the bypass floods earlier 102 Teal, 34 Mallards, 54 Wigeon, two Shelducks, 31 Shovelers, four Gadwalls, 30+ Lapwings and two Green Sandpipers today. (Thomas McClung).

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Tuesday 4th February 2025