Thursday 7th November 2024

WWT Slimbridge     The WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER on the Dumbles this morning but always distant. Also 25 White-fronted Geese, a Little Stint and 400+ Dunlins today. The immature SPOONBILL on the Tack Piece. Two Bewick’s Swans on the Rushy. (Roberta Goodall/Paul Masters/Paul Clark).

Cleeve Hill     At 9:30am a very late SWALLOW flew S past the 6th Tee. Possibly another 60+ yards away on the same flight path, beyond some gorse in poor viz. (John Kime).

Dowdeswell Reservoir     This morning a Great White Egret, probably new for the site, and a female Goosander. (Tom Mabbett).

Saul Warth     The male WHEATEAR flycatching in the sluice this morning. 41 Curlews, 145 Dunlins, a Black-tailed Godwit, four Little Egrets, 12 Fieldfares, two Stonechats, 17 Meadow Pipits, a Rock Pipit, five Chiffchaffs, one singing and two Reed Buntings. (MK).

Rock Pipit by Mike King

Reed Bunting by Mike King

Frampton     At the sailing lake in the weedy field to the S no sign of the Corn Bunting but it could still be there. 20+ Chaffinches, 10+ Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, 20+ Fieldfares, two Jays, a Reed Bunting, a Chiffchaff and a Cetti’s Warbler. The adult Yellow-legged Gull on the lake. (Martin McGill/MK).

Yellow-legged Gull  by Mike King

Epney     Early morning 160 Lapwings and 23 Curlews on the river. (MK).

Nailsworth     A Hen-type Harrier flew NW over Windsoredge at 11:45am, being mobbed by gulls. (Terry Grant).

Chavenage Lane     Three Red Kites perched on a tree, as two others circled overhead. (Terry Grant).

Coombe Hill Meadows     17 Mute Swans, 150 Greylags, 100 Canada Geese, a Shelduck, 800+ Wigeon, 50+ Gadwalls, 1500+ Teal, 150+ Mallards, 250+ Pintails, 350+ Shovelers, 30+ Tufted Ducks, five Grey Herons, six Little Egrets, 40 Coots, a Water Rail heard, 345 Lapwings, 15 Dunlins, 15 Snipe, 30 Black-headed Gulls, five Skylarks, five Fieldfares, 15 Redwings, a Blackcap, three Chiffchaffs and a Reed Bunting. (Mike Smart).

Cheltenham     A Cormorant on Pittville Park lake today. (David & Carole Bastin).

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Wednesday 6th November 2024

WWT Slimbridge     This morning a Grey Plover heard over the grounds, a Little Stint on the Dumbles, a Turnstone with Lapwings on the Tack Piece and a SPOONBILL on the edge of the Dumbles over high tide. (Andy Jayne).

Saul Warth     This morning the first-winter male Wheatear came really close on the seawall by the sewage works. A Great White Egret again in private field behind Fretherne church, also six Redwings, eight Fieldfares, three Stonechats, 30 Meadow Pipits, four Chiffchaffs, 12 Linnets and four Reed Buntings. (MK). Also a Rock Pipit this afternoon. (Steve Pullen).

Wheatear by Mike King

Frampton pools     A Corn Bunting with a finch and winter thrush flock this afternoon. (Nick Goatman).

Epney     24 Lapwings and 15 Curlews on the river and a Muntjac in Longney early morning. (MK).

Tewkesbury      On the Mill Avon this morning, an Egyptian Goose amongst the Mallards. (Les Ditchburn).

Forest of Dean     At Cannop Ponds three Ravens, 20 Mandarins, 12 Wigeon, a female Shoveler and a Marsh Tit briefly at the feeders. Also Crossbills at New Fancy View. (Jonathan Bull).

Coombe Hill Meadows     16 Mute Swan, 150 Greylags, 50 Canada Geese, 500+ Wigeon, 50 Gadwalls, 700+ Teal, 150 Mallards, 173 Pintails, 222 Shovelers, 20 Tufted Ducks, a Great White Egret, six Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, 40 Coots, 1+ Water Rail calling, a Marsh Harrier, 196 Lapwings, a Golden Plover, seven Dunlins, 15 Snipe, a Curlew heard calling, a Green Sandpiper, ten Fieldfares, ten Redwings, two Chiffchaffs and two Reed Buntings this morning. (Mike Smart).

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Tuesday 5th November 2024

Saul Warth     The very late first-winter Wheatear for it’s 4th day. 70+ Shelducks, a Redshank, 30+ Curlews, a Common Sandpiper, a Great White Egret again in the private field behind Fretherne church, three Little Egrets, three Redwings, two Stonechats, 22 Meadow Pipits, a Chiffchaff, 32 Linnets, four Reed Buntings and a Nuthatch. (MK).

Stonechat by Nigel Young

Common Sandpiper by Mike King

Frampton pools     Late afternoon a Firecrest with a tit flock, eight Chiffchaffs, three Siskins, 26 Redwings, 18 Fieldfares, 30 Starlings, two male Pochards, six Wigeon, four Shovelers, six Teal, ten Gadwalls, 43 Tufted Ducks, 47 Cormorants and 17 Little Egrets. (Nick Goatman).

Gloucester     At Horsbere Brook Flood Storage Area today a Cetti’s Warbler, probably a new species for the site, Also two Water Rails calling, four Snipe, a female Stonechat and two Reed Buntings. (Andy Jayne).

Plusterwine     This morning at high tide between Plusterwine and Woolaston Grange, three Grey Herons, two Buzzards, a Kestrel, 14 Greylags, two Canada Geese, 11 Shelducks, 49 Wigeon, 17 Redshanks, 55 Lapwings, a Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, two Collared Doves, a Skylark, a Reed Bunting, nine Long-tailed Tits and a Raven. Congregating by the maize stubble, 440 Carrion Crows, 290 Jackdaws, 150 Starlings, 40 Redwings, 25 Goldfinches, four Song Thrushes and four Greenfinches. (lain Crawford).

Maisemore     This afternoon two Little Grebes, 22 Mallards, six Moorhens, a Grey Heron,
two Cormorants, a Raven, two Goldfinches, five Long-tailed Tits, a Buzzard and 91 Canada Geese flew over towards Sandhurst. (John Fletcher).

Hucclecote     This morning 20+ Goldfinches in the garden. (Harold Smith).

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Monday 4th November 2024

WWT Slimbridge     A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER on South Lake this morning briefly amongst the Dunlins. (Tan Grigg). The immature SPOONBILL on the estuary edge from Estuary Tower hide this morning. (Warren Gill). A Goshawk flew over the Tack Piece at 3pm. (Ian Hull).

Amberley     In Theescombe Lane male and female FIRECRESTS ringed in the garden this morning. (Phil Williams).

Saul Warth     At high tide this morning the very late first-winter male Wheatear for its 3rd day. Also 37 Shelducks, two Teal, a Grey Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit, 82 Curlews, three Lapwings, a Great White Egret, four Little Egrets, five Grey Herons, two Fieldfares, a Redwing, male and female Stonechats, a Rock Pipit, 30 Meadow Pipits, four Chiffchaffs, two singing, 21 Linnets, two Reed Buntings, two Goldcrests, 11 Long-tailed Tits and three Ravens. (MK).

Great White Egret by Mike King

Rock Pipit by Mike King

Elmore Court     At the rewilding area this morning birds included nine Snipe, a Little Grebe and 12 Teal on the scrape, six Stonechats, a Cetti’s Warbler heard, two Bullfinches and c30 Lapwings over. (Steve Pullen).

Coombe Hill Meadows      11 Mute Swans, 200 Greylags, 70 Canada Geese, 15 Shelducks, 500+ Wigeon, 600 Teal, 100 Mallards, 150+ Shovelers, 40 Gadwalls, 50 Pintails, 20 Tufted Ducks, a Little Grebe, 207+ Lapwings, 21 Golden Plovers, ten Dunlins, 11 Snipe, two Grey Herons, 6+ Little Egrets, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, 33 Coots, four Water Rails calling along the canal, a Cormorant, ten Skylarks, two Fieldfares, 6+ Redwings, a Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs today. (Paul Clark/Mike Smart).

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Sunday 3rd November 2024

WWT Slimbridge     The first two BEWICK’S SWANS flew into the Tack Piece at 10:50am. Two DARK-BELLIED BRENT GEESE on the Dumbles and later five more flew upriver. From Zeiss hide four Spotted Redshanks and a Great White Egret. (Jeremy Holland). All seven were on the Dumbles this afternoon. (Roberta Goodall).

Frampton     Two Hawfinches flew E over the garden at 8am. A juvenile Goshawk flew towards Saul Warth at 8:20am. (Gordon Hodgson).

Saul Warth     At high tide the very late first-winter male Wheatear still this morning. Also 50 Shelducks, two Egyptian Geese, 80 Curlews, 89 Lapwings flew S, a Common Sandpiper, three Little Egrets, ten Fieldfares, a Redwing, a Stonechat, 30 Meadow Pipits, four Chiffchaffs, 25 Linnets and four Reed Buntings. (MK).

Wheatear by Mike King

Chavenage Lane area     This morning a male MERLIN, two Stonechats and two Yellowhammers. (Paul Rich).

Gloucester    A Water Rail squealing in the marshy area next to Castle Meads car park at lunch time today. Also 12 Fieldfares and two Siskins over Gloucester Docks at 10:30am. (Steve Pullen).

Cam Long Down     This morning a Woodcock flushed. (Jonathan Bull).

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Saturday 2nd November 2024

WWT Slimbridge     1+ BEARDED TIT heard going over from Estuary Tower. Also a Brambling and a Hawfinch over this morning. A probable juvenile WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER on The Dumbles but not relocated. A Firecrest with a tit flock in willows just before the start of the estuary walkway. (James Robinson). A juvenile Goshawk hunting from Zeiss hide at 11:45am. Also two Great White Egrets here. At least nine Cattle Egrets with cattle on the Tack Piece. (Mark Dowie). A Peregrine and a Kestrel over the Dumbles and the hybrid Bar-headed Goose with the Barnacle Geese. On South Lake four Spotted Redshanks with 150+ Black-tailed Godwits. (Jacob Jenkins).

Saul Warth     Early morning at high tide a very late first winter male Wheatear, 78 Shelducks, eight Egyptian Geese flew past towards Awre, two Great Crested Grebes on the river, 79 Curlews, 500+ Golden Plovers over the estuary, five Dunlins, a Common Sandpiper, three Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier hunting, two Fieldfares, 20 Redwings, a Rock Pipit, 16 Meadow Pipits and two Chiffchaffs. (MK).

Wheatear by Mike King

Frampton pools     Late afternoon two Lesser Redpolls, a Siskin, two Chiffchaffs, two Treecreepers, a Nuthatch, three Cetti’s Warbler, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 59 Cormorants, six Wigeon, eight Gadwalls, five Little Grebes, a Great White Egret, 15 Little Egrets and three Tawny Owls. (Nick Goatman).

Hawling     A female MERLIN hunting fast and low over fields near Hawling at 12:30pm today. (Martine Fenn).

Charlton Kings     A Hawfinch over at midday. (Greg Mabbett).

Painswick Beacon     This morning between 8:30-10:30am four Bullfinches in the trees to the right of the golf course near the cattle gate. Also two Treecreepers by the tee adjacent to the fork in the road to the quarry and c200 Redwings over. (Gary Smithson).

Coombe Hill Meadows     17 Mute Swans, 381 Canada Geese, 70 Greylags, four Egyptian Geese, six Shelducks, 78 Pintails, 450 Mallards, 25 Gadwalls, 170 Shovelers, 600 Teal, 500 Wigeon, 40 Tufted Ducks, 11 Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, an immature Marsh Harrier, four Snipe, 90 Lapwings, a Green Sandpiper, a Cetti’s Warbler, eight Chiffchaffs, two Kingfishers, two Water Rails. a Little Grebe, 39 Coots, 50 Skylarks, 20 Fieldfares and 200 Redwings. (Ian Ralphs/Mike Smart).

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Friday 1st November 2024

WWT Slimbridge     A BITTERN showing well from Zeiss hide this afternoon. (Heather England/Mark Hobson). The immature SPOONBILL on South Lake again. (Ian Hull). Eight White-fronted Geese on the Tack Piece. (Dot Jones).

Bittern by Heather England

Saul Warth     Early morning at high tide 29 Shelducks, 73 Golden Plovers flew S, 28 Curlews, a Common Sandpiper, three Grey Herons, five Little Egrets, 15 Meadow Pipits, four Pied Wagtails, a male Stonechat, two Reed Buntings, seven Redwings, two Mistle Thrushes and a Chiffchaff. (MK). Also a Kingfisher in the sluice, a Grey Wagtail and a Lapwing over and along the Severn Way, five Stonechats, 10+ Meadow Pipits, a female Kestrel and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Jon Dexter).

Forest of Dean     A Hawfinch, a Sparrowhawk and two Ravens at The Pludds and 100 Fieldfares flew W. At Staple Edge two Ravens, 26 Meadow Pipits, 55 Siskins and fly-overs by four Crossbills, two Lesser Redpolls and a Brambling. In the Stowe Green Quarry area 16 Tufted Ducks, seven Coots, two Little Grebes, a Kestrel, a Peregrine, 1200 Woodpigeons, 160 Skylarks, two Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail, 100 Chaffinches and a Yellowhammer. Also a fly-over Hawfinch, Brambling and Lesser Redpoll. (Andy Jayne).

Stinchcombe Hill     This morning the first four Fieldfares of the autumn, also five Crossbills, 15 Bramblings, two Lesser Redpolls, two Siskins, 17 Redwings and 33 Woodpigeons over. (James Robinson).

Elmore Court     At the rewilding area this morning, 19 Snipe, 150+ Fieldfares with 200+ Redwings, five Stonechats, two Reed Buntings, a Little Egret, two Grey Herons, seven Teal, two Gadwalls, 30+ Mallard, two Mute Swans, two Kestrels, a Red Kite, four Buzzards, two Ravens, two Jays and three Great Spotted Woodpeckers. (Steve Pullen).

Chavenage Green     A MERLIN seen briefly as it hunted the 1800+ Starling flock, also 700+ Wood Pigeons and three Red Kites. (Terry Grant).

Cobney Meadows     17 Mute Swans, a Shelduck, 30 Wigeon, two Gadwalls, five Teal, 40 Mallards, three Pintails, three Shovelers, a Little Egret, a Water Rail squealing from the canal and six Fieldfares. (Mike Smart).

Ashleworth Ham     100+ Canada Geese, 20 Greylags and at least 200 ducks –
Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail. Shoveler. (Mike Smart).

Cheltenham     At Pittville Park lake today an OTTER showing well. Also  several Jays, Long-tailed Tit flocks and Goldcrests and a Kingfisher. (Alan McIlquham).

Otter by Alan McIlquham

Jay by Alan McIlquham
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Thursday 31st October 2024 🎃

Wotton-Under-Edge     A BLACK REDSTART on rooftops, seen from the Chipping car park this afternoon. (Geoff Fawcett).

Stinchcombe Hill     A Hawfinch, a Yellowhammer, a Reed Bunting, two Lesser Redpolls, 190 Woodpigeons, 25 Meadow Pipits, 17 Redwings and 11 Stock Doves over this morning. Two Chiffchaffs and a marked increase in Dunnocks around the golf course. (James Robinson).

Frampton     A first-winter LITTLE GULL on the estuary this morning. (Gordon Hodgson). Six Fieldfares in the trees next to Splatt Bridge early morning. (Steve Pullen).

Saul Warth     Early morning at high tide 102 Shelducks, three Grey Herons, two Little Egrets, 30 Curlews, a Common Sandpiper, an Avocet, a Peregrine, a Kestrel, a Kingfisher, a pair of Stonechats, the first autumn Rock Pipit, 20 Meadow Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, four Pied Wagtails, four Reed Buntings, a Redwing, 16 Skylarks, a Lesser Redpoll and a Chiffchaff singing. (MK).

Common Sandpiper by Mike King

Kingfisher by Mike King

WWT Slimbridge     The immature SPOONBILL and 21 Cattle Egrets on South Lake this afternoon. Two Egyptian Geese this morning. (Roberta Goodall/Terry Stevenson/Mike Davis).

Westonbirt     Three Grey Partridges in a field close to Westonbirt at ST8487292032. Also c10 Fieldfares and 30 Redwings. (Paul Rich).

Calmsden     Four Grey Partridges this morning. (Duncan Dine).

Forest of Dean    At Nagshead two Firecrests, two Goldcrests, a Treecreeper, two Nuthatches, a Coal Tit, four Redwings, two Fallow Deer and a Wild Boar this morning. Five Goosanders at Woorgreens and another four at Upper Cannop. (Paul Clark).

Longney Crib     This afternoon at low tide 220 Lapwings, 32 Golden Plovers, 12 Canada Geese, 16 Greylags, a Grey Heron, five Cormorants, two female Stonechats, a female Reed Bunting, two Ravens and 600+ gulls. (John Fletcher).

Golden Plovers by John Fletcher

Coombe Hill Meadows     This morning four Mute Swans, ten Greylags, 75 Canada Geese, eight Egyptian Geese, 500 Wigeon, 20 Gadwalls, 1200 Teal, 50 Mallards, 100 Pintails, 150 Shovelers, 70 Tufted Ducks, a Pochard, a Cormorant, a Grey Heron, a Water
Rail squealing, 14 Lapwings, five Skylarks and a Chiffchaff. (Mike Smart).

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Wednesday 30th October 2024

Painswick Beacon     This morning’s migration watch included 13 Hawfinches, 54 Chaffinches, seven Bramblings, 31 Goldfinches, 151 Redwings, eight Fieldfares, 68 Starlings and 3680 Woodpigeons. (John Fleming).

Saul Warth     Late morning seven Stonechats, two Mistle Thrushes, six Meadow Pipits, a Wren, two Pied and two Grey Wagtails, five Curlews, three Little Egrets, two Reed Buntings, a Raven heard and a Goshawk in the far left corner flew into an oak tree near the canal. (Paul Sutton).

Frampton     At the pools at lunchtime two Fieldfares,60+ Redwings, two Great White Egret, the Yellow-legged Gulls, two Reed Buntings, six Wigeon, five Gadwalls, two Little Grebes and five Siskins. (Nick Goatman). From Splatt Bridge early morning a small flock of thrushes in the trees behind the church contained at least three Fieldfares, eight Redwings, three Mistle Thrushes, four Song Thrushes and Blackbirds. Also a Black Swan dropped down into the pool behind the north reed bed. (Steve Pullen). At 12:30pm the Black Swan still on the flashes, a Marsh Harrier, two Mistle Thrushes, a Kingfisher, a Little Egret, two distant Great White Egrets flew low and S and a Buzzard. (Paul Sutton).

Forest of Dean     At Cannop Upper Pond this morning 14 Mandarins (10m, 4f) and on the bird table good numbers of the usual species including Nuthatch. (Chris Keeling).

Tewkesbury     At Mythe Brook 12 Mute Swans, 180 Greylags, 30 Canada Geese, 30 Mallards, a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, six Grey Herons and 11 Cormorants flew downstream. (Mike Smart).

Ashleworth Ham     18. Lapwings, 13 Teal, 11 Wigeon, seven Shovelers, 13 Pintails, three Gadwalls, a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 42 Greylags, 65 Canada Geese, two Coots, four Mute Swans, 75+ Mallards, two Chaffinches, five Goldfinches, a Chiffchaff, a Buzzard and a Peregrine today. (John Fletcher).

Cheltenham     At Park Campus c25 Redwings, three Goldcrests, a drake Mandarin, Green Woodpeckers calling and three Jays. A young Otter was seen in the spillpool at Pittville park yesterday. (Alan McIlquham).

Leckhampton     A very pale brown (leucistic) Carrion Crow near the junction of Leckhampton Road and Moorend Road today. (Steve Brown).

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Tuesday 29th October 2024

Cleeve Hill     Early afternoon a DARTFORD WARBLER c800 metres N of the masts in gorse at SO9922425412. (Duncan Dine).

Dartford Warbler by Duncan Dine

Wotton-Under-Edge     A BLACK REDSTART on top of the Wotton Baptist Church in the Chipping carpark today. (Paul Dunham).

Black Redstart by Paul Dunham

Painswick Beacon     At the hillfort this morning at 8:30am a male RING OUZEL, eight Redwings and seven Bramblings landed in a young beech on the SW corner and stayed for good views before being flushed by a Sparrowhawk. (John Fleming/Kevin Kingscott).

Saul Warth     A SHORT-EARED OWL at 3:30pm flushed by a Wren stayed for a while before being chased towards Splatt Flashes by crows. Also a Kingfisher at the sluice, a Little Owl calling at 4:20pm near Fretherne church, 66 Curlews, two Snipe, four Buzzards, two Kestrels, seven Meadow Pipits, three Stonechats and a Chiffchaff. (MK).

Short-eared Owl by Mike King

Short-eared Owl by Mike King

Lydney to Aylburton Warth     A pair of Mandarins, two Little Grebes, two Golden Plovers, 39 Snipe, two Little Egrets, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, a Kingfisher, a Cetti’s Warbler, two Treecreepers, ten Stonechats, eight Rock Pipits and six Reed Buntings today. (Andy Jayne).

WWT Slimbridge     On the Rushy 21 Snipe and a Spotted Redshank. On the  Tack Piece the immature SPOONBILL, 18 Cattle Egrets and two Egyptian Geese. At Middle Point c750 Golden Plovers. (Roy Kinchin/Magnus Carter/Terry Stevenson/Jonathan Bull).

Cattle Egret by Terry Stevenson

Stonehouse     A Green Woodpecker and ten Redwings in St Cyr’s Churchyard by the Ocean early afternoon. (Nigel Young).

Green Woodpecker by Nigel Young

Coombe Hill Meadows     This morning the Grundon hide was accessible from the
canal towpath for the first time in 10 days. Birds included four Mute Swans, 120 Greylags, 20 Canada Geese, three Egyptian Geese, five Shelducks, 400 Wigeon, five Gadwalls, 500 Teal, 40 Mallards, 60 Shovelers, 40 Pintails, 60 Tufted Ducks, two Grey Herons, a Little Egret, three Red Kites, three Marsh Harriers, an adult female and two immatures, a Buzzard, three Lapwings, a Snipe, three Skylarks, three Chiffchaffs and a Raven. (Mike Smart).

Cobney Meadows     14 Mute Swans and 200 Black-headed Gulls. (Mike Smart).

Ashleworth Ham     Two Mute Swans, 20 Gadwalls, 110 Mallards, three Little Egrets and a Coot. (Mike Smart).

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