Paul's Birding Diary

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...

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...