Paul's Birding Diary

Saturday 12th December 2015 Great Northern Diver, Farmoor Reservoir I was hoping to get nice views of two Grey Phalaropes that had been present for several days, but unfortunately they had departed Farmoor Reservoir. Watching two juvenile Great Northern Divers fishing provided some consolation.

Friday 28th - Saturday 29th November 2015 Greater Scaup, WWT Slimbrige I have caught up with the five Greenland White-fronted Geese at WWT Slimbridge, and the obliging female Greater Scaup , the latter providing some nice photo opportunities.       Today I carried out a Winter Random Square Survey which just happened to be the square encompassing Coombe Hill Meadows. Aided by Andy and Mark, we totalled 43 species including: Cetti's Warbler 1 Stonechat 2 (pair) Shoveler 7 Shelduck 2 Teal 23 Wigeon 122 Mallard 26 Canada Goose 18 Water Rail 1 Hashtag Science!

Thursday 12th - Sunday 22nd November 2015 Shag, Sharpness Saturday felt very cold in the biting wind as I carried out a Winter Random Square Survey at Brand Green, near Upleadon. Only 25 species in two hours, mainly counting Wood Pigeons and Carrion Crows, but there was a nice flock of 50 Linnets in a stubble field. The square included part of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust's Collin Park Wood nature reserve, which I've never been to before. This a beautiful wood, with Small-leaved Lime, Sessile Oak and Wild Service Tree, although not many birds on my visit, I must go back in the spring. Shag, Sharpness In the afternoon, news of a Shag at Sharpness found by Andy Jordan provided motivation to venture back out into the cold. I've seen a few Shags in the county, but they are always nice to see. It was still present on Sunday when I went back with Andy and Mark, where other highlights included a Rock Pipit , a Kingfisher , a pair of Stonechats , and at the NedWe...

Sunday 1st November 2015 Richard's Pipit, Selsley Common After getting the county tick in the bag in a quick visit on Saturday with Mark, we returned for a longer look at the RICHARD'S PIPIT on Sunday. It took longer to locate on the return visit, but we had good views on and off as it foraged in the long grass, before being flushed by walkers and perching briefly in a tree. Dix Pips typically prefer feeding in long grass The long hind-claws can be made out in this shot This Skylark was less shy The north end of the common where the Dix Pipit was feeding Fog cloaked the vale all day On 17th October I went south of the border with Mark to see the Red-necked Grebes at Waterhay in Wiltshire, and got some good views.      

Further to my last post I wanted to share a great photo by Andy Hartley of the Gibraltar Point Rustic Bunting   from 11th October. I missed it by minutes - I wish I'd seen it! Many thanks to Andy for his permission to use the photo.

Sunday 11th October 2015 One of many Goldcrests seen I visited Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, on Sunday with the Birmingham branch of the West Midlands Bird Club. This was a new site for me and I was keen to explore the reserve. The new visitor centre under construction Arty shot looking towards the east dunes The saltmarsh and the North Sea beyond Sea Buckthorn is a feature of the local coastal flora News on arrival of a Rustic Bunting created much excitement. For me and many others, however, the hoped for tick remained out of reach. After showing to several lucky birders late morning I spent a lot of time hoping it would reappear. It didn't. The cycle track it had been seen on, adjacent to Jackson's Marsh, was too regularly disturbed. The end result was a frustrating dip leaving not enough time to explore other parts of the reserve - but that's birding! Smart male Brambling There are worse ways of spending a sunny Sunday afternoon, and I was ple...

Saturday 10th October 2015 I caught up with the juvenile ROSE-COLOURED STARLING in Tewksbury this morning, at the second attempt. It showed well, but briefly at 9.57am preening on a TV aerial in Wenlock Road opposite the junction with Despenser Road. After a few minutes it flew off with a group of c20 Starlings and 2 Jackdaws . This was my third one, but my first for Gloucestershire.

Friday 18th to Friday 25th September 2015 White Storks, Doñana National Park A few photos from my recent week in Spain, based in Aznalcázar near Seville. I put up a fuller wildlife account when I get round to it. Lesser Kestrel, Seville Cathedral Moorish Gecko, Dehesa de Abajo Iberian Magpie, Pines of Aznalcázar Melodious Warbler, El Rocio Spotless Starling, El Rocio Chough, Ronda Yellow-legged Gull, Cádiz Black Stork, Dehesa de Abajo Geller's Skipper, Dehesa de Abajo Seville Cathedral