Paul's Birding Diary

Monday 18th December 2017 Some photos here of the male PENDULINE TIT at Plock Court, Longford, I took during my lunch hour on Monday; a great find by Sarah Payne at the weekend. I have never actually strayed on to Plock Court before despite working only 9 minutes away. The bird is around the wetland area in the NW corner of Plock Court at SO837204.      

Saturday 14th October 2017 The ROCK THRUSH at Blorenge was a welcome twitch, joined by Andy and Mark, after a relatively quiet autumn so far locally. Arriving on site around 8am in quite gloomy conditions, it was some time before the Rock Thrush was seen above the main quarry and then some time late when it was relocated below the main path beyond the second small quarry at 9.45am. It was fairly mobile, but always soon relocated after every flight by the numerous pairs of human eyes present, and provided some very good views near to the path.        

Saturday 24th June - Saturday 8th July 2017 White Admiral, Lower Woods, 8th July A visit to Lower Woods yesterday morning with Mark produced seven White Admirals and c30 Silver-washed Fritillaries - these included a valezina female, too quick to photograph, but the first one I've seen. Other butterflies included three Purple Hairstreaks . Silver-washed Fritillaries, Lower Woods, 8th July Female Silver-washed Fritillary, Lower Woods, 8th July Silver-washed Fritillary, Lower Woods, 8th July   This Lizard Orchid at a South Glos site had gone over; I'll have to visit earlier next year. Lizard Orchid, S. Glos, 8th July By contrast, the Barrow Wake Musk Orchids were at their peak last Saturday. Musk Orchids, Barrow Wake, 1st July A few Bee Orchids were in the area. Bee Orchid, Barrow Wake, 1st July I got good views of Purple Hairstreaks recently at RHS Wisley in one of the formal gardens and in the Oak Wood area. Purple Hairstreak, RHS Wisley...

Friday 16th June 2017 With news on a Friday afternoon of a species I've never managed to see, I had to head off straight from getting home from work. Just 43 minutes later, within 30 seconds of leaving the car I was looking at a cracking male Red-backed Shrike at the wonderful Blakehill Farm Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve. This former military airfield is being turned back into wildlife-rich hay meadow and pasture and is always a rewarding site to visit, but especially when there is a Red-backed Shrike. The Shrike was feeding and singing occasionally, not worried by cars or other passers-by using the farm track behind its chosen brambly hedge.       That's the Shrike's bush across the field Information board

Sunday 30th April - Sunday 14th May 2017 Black Tern, WWT Slimbridge, 6th May On 30th April I went with the West Midlands Bird Club to Cambridgeshire. The first stop was at RSPB Fowlmere where it was great to see and hear two Turtle Doves . By the time we arrived at the second stop, Paxton Pits, it was apparent that there had been an influx of Black Terns in the country, and one was reported at Paxton. There was unfortunately no sign of it, although the sight of up to 30 Common Terns was nice to see. I also dipped on Nightingale here but the numbers of warblers, especially the large number of Garden Warblers maintained interest. I eventually caught up with Black Term at WWT on 6th May. Garden Warbler, Paxton Pits A visit to Edge Common on 7th May produced three Duke of Burgundy butterflies and a few Dingy Skippers plus some Common Twayblade coming in to flower. Duke of Burgundy, Edge Common, 7th May Dingy Skipper, Edge Common, 7th May Duke of Burgundy, E...

Saturday 1st - Saturday 29th April 2017 Black-winged Stilt, WWT, 23rd April Three BLACK-WINGED STILTS showed extremely well from Robbie Garnett hide at WWT on 23rd. They turned up during the week and I was glad they had the manners to stay until the weekend. A Little Gull on the Rushy and a Grasshopper Warbler at Middle Point completed a good morning. Black-winged Stilt, WWT, 23rd April Black-winged Stilts, WWT, 23rd April Little Gull, WWT, 23rd April Forward to today, Saturday - a redhead Smew remains on the Rushy, and was giving good views. The best birds at Middle Point at high tide was a Whinchat , three Wheatears , two Grasshopper Warblers , a Bar-tailed Godwit , a Common Sandpiper and a flyover Yellow Wagtail . It was quiet at Saul Warth earlier before the tide, the highlights being six Whimbrels and three Wheatears including a Greenland type. Smew, WWT, 29th April Yesterday after work I spent nearly two hours on Cleeve Common before finally trackin...