Paul's Birding Diary

Sunday 12th - Monday 12th March 2017 Garganey, Ashleworth Ham, 18th March At least three Garaganey turned up in the county last week, and after dipping at WWT Slimbridge in the morning, I stopped off at Ashleworth Ham on the way back from Kempley to check out this fine drake above. My first Sand Martins of the year, c80, were at Frampton Court Lake earlier. I had been to Kempley in the afternoon with Linda for our annual fix of Wild Daffodils around Kempley. I don't think I have ever seen them looking as good. Wild Daffodils on the roadside near Kempley Haind Park Wood Along the canal locally, Sweet Violets have been coming into flower. The white form predominates here over the 'standard' purple form. Sweet Violet, Hardwicke Sweet Violet, white form On 12th March, a second summer Mediterranean Gull was on South Lake, at WWT, acquiring its black summer hood. Mediterranean Gull, WWT A Black Swan was also at WWT on 12th March, near the centre,...

Sunday 12th - Sunday 26th February 2017 (American) Green-winged Teal, Ashleworth Ham, 25th February I could spend all weekend catching up with birds found during the working week, but I really haven't got the time, having fitted in two Winter Random Square Surveys this month. On the way back from a random square near Lydney last Saturday with Andy, we stopped at Ashleworth Ham to catch up with the Green-winged Teal . The Teal was fairly close for much of the time, although often obscured by the roadside hedge. On Sunday I went to see the female/immature Black Redstart found by Mark at the settling pond in Chivenor Close at Kingsway, Quedgeley. I struck lucky and found it within about a minute of arriving. Black Redstart, Quedgeley, 26th February The previous weekend's highlights were the wintering Lapland Bunting at WWT Slimbridge and another look at the wintering Richard's Pipit at Arlingham. Lapland Bunting, with brick, WWT Slimbridge, 19th February Ric...