Paul's Birding Diary

Saturday 19th May 2018 Monkey Orchid On royal wedding day, I left Mrs M watching the telly and headed off east for the day. My first stop was Hartslock near Goring-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. The Monkey Orchids were looking fantastic, and I counted getting on for 20. The single Lady Orchid was past its prime, but two or three flowers recalled its full beauty. The most numerous by far are the Lady x Monkey hybrids, tall vigorous plants numbering around a hundred give or take. Some of the Pasqueflowers  were still in flower, some still in bud even - I was expecting them to have all gone to seed by now. Butterflies on the wing included Grizzled Skippers , Dingy Skippers , Green Hairstreakes , Orange-tips , Green-veined Whites , Small Whites and Brimstones . Also a Common Carpet moth. This is a beautiful reserve, affording wonderful views of the Thames and surrounding landscape. I also stumbled across George Michael's house in the village, complete with a plethora of tributes....

Monday 7th - Tuesday 15th May 2018 Sword-leaved Helleborine, Cephalanthera longifolia Recently I have caught up with Fly Orchids and Sword-leaved Helleborines in the Cotswolds, the latter being a threatened and particularly scarce species in the UK. I have only previously seen Sword-leaved Helleborine, also known as Narrow-leaved Helleborine, in Switzerland, where it more common. Fly Orchid, a close relative of the Bee Orchid, are more widespread but with a localised distribution and not one I have seen before. Both are exquisitely beautiful and very special plants. Fly Orchid, Ophrys insectifera       On 7th I had a Hobby fly over the garden and managed a couple of hurried record shots of this garden tick. A Coal Tit was a surprise garden visitor on 15th as I haven't seen one in the garden since the early spring. Flyover garden Hobby, 7th May Coal Tit, garden, 15th May

Sunday 8th April 2018 As Hawfinches continue to visit my garden, I have had an email back from Jerry Lewis on a ringed male seen on 8th April (one of at least five different individuals seen): "this bird ringed by me [Jerry] (as an adult) on 08/04/2016, Nr Cinderford, so a decent movement. metal = NW76417 colour = orange IL. (First record since ringed)" fascinating stuff .

Thursday 1st - Friday 2nd March 2018 One of 18 garden Fieldfares A different male Hawfinch arrived on the garden bird table on Thursday morning at 8.20am just as I was leaving for work and as it was snowing. The line of pale markings on the shoulder distinguishes this male from Tuesday's bird Dwarfing this Chaffinch On Friday I worked at home having decided not to venture out in the thick snow. The apples I put out created a frenzy among visiting Fieldfares , no less than 18 of them. Two or three of them, and one in particular, spent an awful amount of time trying to defend the apples and very very aggressive towards not only the other Fieldfares but anything else that posed a threat including seven Redwings , two Blackbirds , and a Song Thrush which were tolerated in the main as long as they sat quietly at a safe distant. Othe birds in the garden included a male Great Spotted Woodpecker , nine Wood Pigeons , 37 Chaffinches (but no Bramblings yet!), 14 Greenfi...

Saturday 24th -Tuesday 27th February 2018 I was delighted to see this male Hawfinch on the bird table this morning at 7.40 this morning. I saw a male and female around the Fisher's Meadow/canal area (Quedgeley) on Saturday so I knew they weren't far away. I just love them. Saturday was also a chance to look for Water Pipit at Saul Warth with Andy, and it duly obliged. A male Merlin was also present, although distant, and a Stonechat and a Peregrine were the other highlights. Water Pipit, Saul Warth Male Stonechat, Saul Warth On Sunday I caught up with the drake Ring-necked Duck on pit 16 in the Cotswold Water Park west, with Andy and Mark. Ring-necked Duck (right) with Tufted Ducks