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...

Saturday 4th - Sunday 5th February 2017 Cattle Egret, Frampton-on-Severn Saturday's birding was spent at WWT hoping to locate a Lapland Bunting that has been seen recently. A long search across the Dumbles was fruitless as was a scan from Zeiss Hide for Spotted Redshank. The highlight was a male Goshawk which was seen from the Holden Tower over the Top New Piece flying over the Long Pool and the Tack Piece. On Sunday at least three Cattle Egrets were in a horse paddock off Arlingham Road between Frampton and Saul. Cattle Egrets, Frampton-on-Severn At the red bed flashes north of Splatt Bridge four Green Sandpipers were present. Two of the four Green Sandpipers, Frampton-on-Severn - rather distant A Great White Egret was at Court Lake viewed from Court field in the reeds on the opposite side of the lake. Great White Egret, Frampton-on-Severn Great White Egret, Frampton-on-Severn

Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th January 2017 Waxwing, Quedgeley, 29th January A nice museum of Waxwings arrived and settled in Quedgeley over the past week and I made a couple of visits to see them over the weekend. On Sunday morning I had them all to myself as they came to feed on Rose hips next the the footpath opposite the moat at Manor Farm. I counted 28 on Saturday and there were still at least 20 on Sunday. Waxwing, Quedgeley, 28th January Waxwing, Quedgeley, 29th January Waxwing, Quedgeley, 29th January The hedge at Kingsway, Quedgeley With Andy on Saturday we finally caught up with the White-front flock, 180-strong, when they flew in to the Dumbles during the morning, illuminated by the sunshine. Russian White-fronted Geese, WWT, 28th January A Dunnock showed well next to the Holden Tower: Dunnock, WWT, 28th January Snipe, WWT, 28th January And Snipe , Water Rail and Long-tailed Tits around the feeders at Willow Hide: Water Rail, WWT, 28t...

Monday 26th December 2016 to Sunday 15th January 2017 Richard's Pipit, Arlingham Warth  The wintering Richard's Pipit at Arlingham showed well, eventually, on Saturday morning, catching insects in the winter sunshine. This is undoubtedly the bird that was at Rodley in October, directly on the opposite side of the river. Richard's Pipit showing how long its legs are The Richard's Pipit site, on the bank of the Severn horseshoe The Severn Bore heads upstream towards Priding Occasionally a bird turns up in circumstances so surprising that its origin becomes the subject of much debate, rather than being regarded simply as a vagrant. The Stow-on-the-Wold Blue Rock Thrush is one of these, with dubious credentials, but nonetheless attracts a lot of attention. This adult male is certainly an attractive bird, although they are better shown off in the Mediterranean sunshine. Whatever its origin, I had to see it, and, just for good measure made a return visit i...