Paul's Birding Diary

Saturday 26th April 2014 Some photos here of the first-summer Little Gull at WWT Slimbridge today on South Lake today. A supporting cast included two male Ruffs , and small numbers of House Martins , Sand Martins , and Swallows . It did land for a couple of short periods; here are a couple of dodgy-digi-binned shots:

To Sunday 20th April Reeling Grasshopper Warbler, CWP A few musings since my last update. In the Cotswold Water Park, the scrubby area to the north of  pits 43/65 was teeming with birds yesterday morning, including a Cuckoo , a Grasshopper Warbler (above) , and several Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers , all ticks for the year. I returned in a similar direction in the afternoon with the family to visit North Meadow, Cricklade, for the annual show of Snake's Head Ftilliaries . These were giving a good show, certainly better than last year when the cold spring had affected their growth. Snake's Head Fritillaries, North Meadow, Cricklade Even though the bird is an escape, I had to go to Coombe Hill Meadows on 11th to see the exotic African Spoonbill . I wonder where it's come from? I also year-ticked a fine male Redstart and two Little Ringed Plovers here, and at least five Pike were in the canal. African Spoonbill, Coombe Hill Meadows; next to dancing Greylag ...

Saturday 5th April 2014 This uncharacteristically obliging Cetti's Warbler was at South Finger

Saturday 29th to Monday 31st March 2014 Taiga Bean Geese on The Dumbles Size comparable to the Greylags they were keeping company with Larger-billed than Tundra This bird has a typical Taiga bill pattern, also with some white on the forehead; the bill colour is not as vibrant in colour as the orange-pink of the Greylag in the foreground The other has a Tundra-like bill pattern, but note the more 'conical' shape Having missed it on Sunday, I was glad the HOODED CROW was still at WWT on Monday allowing me to catch up with it - a nice addition to my county list; as were the two TAIGA BEAN GEESE which were feeding and dozing in the evening sunshine with Greylags on The Dumbles. Well done to John Budd and Roberta Goodall for finding the Hoodie, and to Colin Butters on the Taigas. Hooded Crow, 800m distant from Holden Tower I had great views of singing Willow Tits at Woorgreens on Saturday with Andy, and the GREAT GREY SHRIKE too. One or two Goshawks we...