Paul's Birding Diary

Friday 24th April 2015 Pie-billed Grebe, Berkeley shore I was pleased that the PIE-BILLED GREBE found at Berkeley on the Severn by Paul Taylor hung on long enough for me to get there after work, what a cracking bird. When I got there, with Andy and Mark, it was sat up half asleep on the rocks, but after a while had a bit of a swim around and dived to feed a few times.I'll excuse my rubbish shots on the poor light! The site - south of Berkeley Power Station First view - blending in with the rocks and seaweed Head up Go for a swim Smile for the camera Have another rest - head down Head up again

Friday 10th - Tuesday 21st April 2015 Snake's Head Fritillaries, North Meadow, Cricklade On Saturday afternoon, 18th, me and Linda made what has become an annual pilgrimage to admire the wild Snake's Head Frtillaries of North Meadow, Cricklade. In several years of visiting, I have never seen them look as stunning, the meadow a haze of purple; indeed a purple haze - see what I did there? The town's St Samson's Church forms the backdrop in this shot Thousands of plants in full flower The white form is quite common amongst the chequered 'standard' type The fascinating pattern of the dominant purple form The morning high tide at Hock Ditch with Andy had been rather quiet, no waders, but a fine adult summer Mediterranean Gull was a year tick, floating somewhat distantly with c150 Black-headed Gulls . Going on to WWT Slimbridge afterwards was more productive with four Little Ringed Plovers and a White Wagtail around the Holden scrape, and an

Saturday 4th April 2015 The PALE-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE was at Hock Ditch over the morning high tide, allowing closer study than my view last Sunday. With a north-westerly wind there wasn't much else of note; the only waders being an Oystercatcher , a Little Egret and two Curlews . Thirty-odd Meadow Pipits appeared to be fresh migrants, as were three Swallows in the cow field behind the sewage works. In the afternoon I visited Ashleworth Ham, hoping to connect with the recent Garganey. I circumnavigated the reserve via footpaths and roads but there was no sign of it. I did come across four Whooper Swans , a group of three adults and one immature, an there were also small numbers of wintering ducks still lingering including a Pintail . The four Whoopers at Ashleworth Ham Lots of Cuckoo Flowers coming into flower Stank Lane