Thanks for supporting The Gloster Birder for its 24th year. Have a Merry Christmas and I’ll see you all out there. Mike.

Westbury-on-Severn     No sign of the Siberian Chiffchaff at Westbury STW in 45 minutes today but six Chiffchaffs there. (Andy Jayne).

Cheltenham     A Kingfisher fishing by the café on Pittville Park lake at 3:45pm. (MK).

Stonehouse     A male Blackcap in the garden today. (Paul Sutton).

Gloucester    Birds on the university campus at Oxstalls and the neighbouring allotments this morning included a leucistic Pheasant, a Sparrowhawk over, a Chiffchaff and a pair of Collared Doves. (Caroline Quinn). A Nuthatch on garden feeders in Barnwood today. (Derek Lightstone).

Pheasant by Caroline Quinn

WWT Slimbridge     The drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL again from Van de Bovencamp hide. On the Rushy this morning 61 Bewick’s Swans, a WHOOPER SWAN and a Black Swan. On South Lake the SPOONBILL, a pair of Goldeneyes, an Oystercatcher and 30 Avocets. A Water Rail at Willow hide. A Marsh Harrier on a kill and a Little Stint on the Dumbles. (Roy Kinchin/Sarah Townsend/Mike Davis/Magnus Carter/Robert Kelsh).

Berkeley shore     25 Turnstones, 26 Dunlins, 14 Redshanks, three Curlews, a Snipe and six Lapwings. Also 76 Mallards, four Teal, 14 Wigeon, six Grey Herons, two Stonechats and three Rock Pipits. (Thomas McClung).

Maisemore    A family group of five WHOOPER SWANS at the River Leadon Meadows near Maisemore today, best viewed from Over canal. Also a Green Sandpiper nearby at Maisemore Ham. (Andy Jayne).

Forest of Dean     5+ Hawfinches under the yews at Parkend by the cricket pitch this morning. (Tim Salkeld).

Cheltenham     This morning a Green Woodpecker c30ft up an oak tree in Benhall. (David Norman).

Green Woodpecker by David Norman

Purton     A redhead Goosander near the Timber Ponds and a male Goosander near the old railway bridge. Also two Little Grebes. (Mike Davis).

WWT Slimbridge     The SPOONBILL still on South Lake this morning. Also 28 Avocets. The Little Stint showing well on scrape from Estuary Tower. (Ian Hull/Caroline Quinn/Heather England). A Water Rail at the Willow hide again today. (Heather England). An adult Ring-billed Gull reported briefly on South Lake but flew off immediately. (Trudy Sheen).

Saul Warth     This afternoon 22 Curlews, 50 Dunlins, a Common Sandpiper, nine Shelducks, a Little Egret, a Kestrel, five Common Gulls, ten Fieldfares, 20 Redwings, a Mistle Thrush, 12 Meadow Pipits, seven Pied Wagtails, five Chiffchaffs and a Reed Bunting. (MK).

Reed Bunting by Mike King

Coombe Hill Meadows     Access from the Apperley end still, birds included two Mute Swans, 100 Greylags, 70 Canada Geese, 3000 Wigeon, two Gadwalls, 2000 Teal, 50 Mallards, 500 Pintails, 150 Shovelers, 40 Tufted Ducks, a Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, 15 Lapwings, four Great Black-backed Gulls, 26 Snipe on two unflooded rough fields to the NE of the reserve below Deerhurst Walton and a Cetti’s Warbler singing. (Mike Smart). Also two WHOOPER SWANS reported by a visiting birder.

Forest of Dean    A Red Kite over Coleford library this morning. (Iain Crawford).

Staunton     In a field near Staunton on the Newland road, 200+ Chaffinches and Goldfinches, and a Barn Owl nearby. (Iain Crawford).

Rodborough Common     On the private road four Goldcrests, four Greenfinches, two Jays and 70 Jackdaws. (Mil Petkovic).

Minchinhampton Golf Course (Avening Course)     30 Redwings on the 9th fairway, 25 Fieldfares on the 11th fairway, four Coots and a male Tufted Duck on the pond at the 11th fairway and 50 Fieldfares on the 14th fairway. (Mil Petkovic).

WWT Slimbridge     The SPOONBILL still on South Lake this morning. Also 38 Avocets. A WHOOPER SWAN, 60 Bewick’s Swans and a Black Swan on the  Rushy today. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Westbury-on-Severn     A SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF still today at Westbury STW. There is a public right of way along the east side of the STW, and it is associating with the border fence line, occasionally popping up into the pine trees. (Dan Watson).

Saul Warth    This morning four Shelducks, four Curlews, two Grey Herons, eight Common Gulls, four Redwings, a Song Thrush, a Meadow Pipit and 4+ Chiffchaffs at the sewage works. (MK).

Chiffchaffs by Mike King

Chavenage Lane     450+ Redwings and a 2000+ corvids – mainly Jackdaws and Rooks – feeding in a field. Also seen 30+ Golden Plovers, two Red Kites and a Stonechat. (Terry Grant).

Frampton pools     A Woodcock flew out of the undergrowth in the Gravel Wash area and flew into woods this morning. (Nick Goatman).

Stonehouse     In the Ocean area late afternoon two Kingfishers, three Little Grebes and a Grey Heron. (Paul Sutton).

Newnham-on-Severn     A female/immature Marsh Harrier, two Great Black-backed Gulls, 37 Lapwings and a Rock Pipit from Newnham Promenade this afternoon. (Dan Watson).

Forest of Dean     A pair of Goosanders on Soudley Lower pond this morning. (Dan Watson). A Song Thrush and a Mistle Thrush singing at midday on Popes Hill. (Harvey Sherwood).

Hucclecote     A Mistle Thrush in the garden this afternoon. The first record since November 2016. (Harold Smith).

WWT Slimbridge     The drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL on the Top New Piece, from Zeiss hide again today. The SPOONBILL and 30 Avocets on South Lake. (Helen Bojaniwska/Dot Jones/Jeanne  Vitkovskis).

Coombe Hill Meadows     Viewed from the north at Apperley at least 4000 ducks present, with 350+ Pintails, 150 Shovelers, 1500 Teal, 1500 Wigeon, two Gadwalls, 40
Tufted Ducks and three Grey Herons. (Mike Smart).

Forest of Dean    Two Red Kites at May Hill this morning flying around between May Hill and Huntley Hill. There was also one Red Kite yesterday and on Thursday. (Joan Bignell).

WWT Slimbridge     The drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL from Van de Bovenkamp hide. The SPOONBILL still on South Lake. Also 24 Avocets, two Egyptian Geese, a redhead Goosander briefly and ten Siskins and 20 Goldfinches in Alders near the bridge. A Water Rail from Willow hide and another on the Dragonfly pool. The Coal Tit still from Kingfisher hide. Three female/immature Marsh Harriers together on the Dumbles and a Peregrine. Two WHOOPER SWANS from Martin Smith hide. (Dot Jones/Tim Jukes/Ian Hull/Jonathan Bull/MK).

Spoonbill by Mike King

Coal Tit by Mike King

Whooper Swan by Mike King

Forest of Dean     Around the feeding stations at Cannop ponds three Bullfinches and at least two Marsh Tits. (Eden Tanner).

Marsh Tit by Eden Tanner

Bullfinch by Eden Tanner

Stonehouse     A female Blackcap and 12 Long-tailed Tits in the garden this morning. (Paul Sutton).

Blackcap by Paul Sutton

Aylburton Warth/Guscar Rocks     This morning, a late WeBS count at high tide, birds included seven Canada Geese, six Shelducks, 170 Wigeon, 420 Teal, five Mallards, two Grey Herons, a Little Egret, a Cormorant, 120 Dunlins, 140 Curlews, 30 Redshanks, 20 Black-headed Gulls, a Red Kite, a Peregrine, two Skylarks, five Meadow Pipits and a Raven. (Mike Smart).

WWT Slimbridge     A male BEARDED TIT by the dragonfly pools at South Finger this morning, then flew towards Kingfisher hide. (Jonathan Bull). On South Lake a SPOONBILL, 22 Cattle Egrets, a pair of Goldeneyes, a Great Crested Grebe and 28 Avocets. (Mike Davis). From Zeiss hide the drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL displaying to a female Eurasian Teal. Six Lesser Redpolls in the alders on the boardwalk. (Oliver Paisey). The Little Stint still from the Estuary Tower. (Paul Clark). 57 Bewick’s Swans and the Whooper Swan on the Rushy early morning and 42 White-fronted Geese from Stephen Kirk hide. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Bearded Tit by Jonathan Bull

Tewkesbury     At Lower Lode early evening two Mute Swans, eight Mallards, two
Grey Herons, 82 roosting Cormorants and a Tawny Owl calling at 4:40pm. (Mike Smart).

Stroud     In the Bowbridge Lock area three Mandarins, a Buzzard and a Little Egret. (Paul Sutton).

Little Egret by Paul Sutton

WWT Slimbridge     The drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL from Zeiss hide this morning. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Elmore Court    Along the footpath at the Elmore rewilding area today birds included, a Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, three Grey Herons, ten Siskins, four Bullfinches, two Stonechats, two Coal Tits, two Treecreepers and two Ravens. (Steve Pullen).

Chavenage Lane     Another northerly movement of 6000+ Woodpigeons between 12:30-1:50pm. Also 130+ Redwings, two Red Kites, nine Buzzards and a pair of Stonechats. (Terry Grant).

Stonehouse     A pair of Little Grebes in the Bond’s Mill area this morning. (Paul Sutton).

Little Grebes by Paul Sutton

WWT Slimbridge    53 Bewick’s Swans and a Whooper Swan on the Rushy. 23 Avocets, the SPOONBILL and a redhead Goosander on South Lake. 26 Ruff and 41 Redshanks on the Tack Piece. Two Water Rails from Willow hide. (Dot Jones/Roy Kinchin/Magnus Carter).

Cotswold Water Park West    An unseasonal Garganey on Pi 201B this morning with 40 Shovelers, 900+ Lapwings and 160 Golden Plovers. On Pit 75 a Great White Egret and three Pintail drakes through. On Pit 72 two Egyptian Geese. Along the Thames Path five Chiffchaffs, two Goldcrests and two Cetti’s Warblers. (Nigel Pleass/Richard Williams).

Cotswold Water Park East     At Pit 114 a Ring-necked Parakeet flew over heading west. (Terry Fenton).

Sherborne     A Jack Snipe today. (Richard Tyler).

Jack Snipe by Richard Tyler

Cheltenham     Today in Pittville Park a male Kingfisher and Black-headed Gulls on the boating lake, also a Nuthatch, a Treecreeper, a Cormorant, a Grey Heron and on the spill pool a female Kingfisher. (Alan McIlquham).

Cormorant by Alan McIlquham

Prestbury     Today at 11:27am a Snipe heard in flight over Prestbury. (Ken Heron).

Coombe Hill Meadows     The reserve is still only approachable from the northern (Apperley) side. Birds today included two Mute Swans, 50+ Canada Geese, 1500+ Wigeon, four Gadwalls, 2000+ Teal, 50 Mallards, 169+ Pintails, 75 Shovelers, 70 Tufted Ducks, three Coots, two Pied Wagtails and ten Fieldfares. (Mike Smart).

WWT Slimbridge     The Whooper Swan on the Tack Piece. Also 26 Ruff and 68 Redshanks. The Little Stint on the scrape from Estuary Tower again. 21 Avocets on South Lake. (Ian Hull).

Saul Warth     At high tide this morning 12 Shelducks, three Cormorants, 58 Lapwings flew S in two flocks, a Marsh Harrier hunting the Warth at 8am, a Peregrine barrelled straight through from the N, a Kestrel, a Buzzard, 100 Fieldfares, two Mistle Thrushes, six Meadow Pipits and male and female Stonechats. (MK).

Stonechat by Mike King

Forest of Dean     At Woorgreens Lake at midday two drake and three redhead Goosanders, a Grey Heron, a Jay, a Coal Tit, a Long-tailed Tit, 1-2 male Bullfinches and a mobile flock of 10+ Siskins. At Cannop Stoneworks at 2:15pm birds at the feeders included 2+ Coal Tits and a Nuthatch. (Andy & Sue Gibbons).

Halmore     A Barn Owl hunting at 4pm in slight drizzle tonight. (Chris Newton).

Barn Owl by Chris Newton

Maisemore     This afternoon birds included a Little Grebe, 13 Moorhen, 35 Mallards, two Cormorants, 70 Fieldfares, a Chiffchaff, five Goldfinches, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Raven, three Buzzards, two Red Kites and two Mute Swans. (John Fletcher).