1-31 July 2008 sightings and blog

31 July 2008 The return of a Spotted Redshank was one WWT highlights for me today but the Gulls with McGill event in the evening was also noteworthy. 23 of us used the Safari rig as a mobile hide to search through the gulls. Although low numbers were recorded we did manage seven species which included a second summer and two adult non-breeding Mediterranean and 10-12 Yellow legged Gull. In addition three handsome Grey Plover and two Bar-tailed Godwit joined the gulls and two Ringed Plover and 3 Dunlin were also seen.

Wood Sandpiper juvenile MJM

30 July 2008 I had a look at Saul Warth again today where the same set of waders were present, I logged the juvenile Wood Sandpiper again, 5 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 14 Dunlin (plus 50 on the estuary) a juvenile Little ringed Plover, 2 adult Ruff (male and female) and a flock of 37+ Black-tailed Godwit and 60 Redshank. At work at WWT my highlight was 3 Greenshank on the Top New Piece where I am currently cutting back vegetation to open of the Wigeon lawns for the winter.

29 July 2008 Check the link below for the extra birds seen today, a large Green Sandpiper count and 12 Yellow-legged Gull were the highlights.

probable Caspian Gull near Middle Point. MJM

27-28 July 2008 I saw a juvenile Wood Sandpiper with a juvenile Little-ringed Plover, 10 Green Sandpipers, a Greenshank and 20 Dunlin at Saul Warth this evening. A full list of sightings from work at WWT on the link. The Mediterranean Gulls were nice. I did not add the probable Caspian Gull that I have seen two days running (image above) to the list as I have not had the chance to study it in too much detail as both times I have seen it I was running a WWT safari, heat haze is an added problem. I also forgot to add the Yellow Wagtail I saw over the Top Hut. http://www.wwt.org.uk/news/213/sightings.html

26 July 2008 A Red Kite over SE at 1110 adding another species to my garden list.

25 July 2008 A few passage waders noted locally today.

Barn Swallow MJM

24 July 2008 Another addition to my garden list was a Brown Hawker this afternoon. A quick 20 minute wander around my local ponds and 5 Emperor, 5 Black-tailed Skimmer, Ruddy and Common Darter and Kingfisher all seen. I caught a Swallow in the Holden Tower this morning and released it. A party of three Wigeon were among the large number of fledged and young waterbirds in the 100 Acre.

23 July 2008 I saw the Whinchats again plus a Scarce Chaser in the 100 Acre. The first Migrant Hawker was out over the 100 Acre.

22 July 2008 A full list of what I saw today can be seen on the WWT site. Just click the link. In addition I forgot to add 4 Whinchat in the 100 Acre and 4 Brown Hawker too. http://www.wwt.org.uk/news/213/sightings.html

White-legged Damselfly near Tewkesbury Gloucestershire MJM

21 July 2008 A visit to the Mythe on the R Severn for a family picnic where I logged 10 White-legged Damselfy, 2 Southern Hawker, a male Emperor, 20 Brown Hawker, Blue-tailed and Common Blue Damselfly, 2 Banded Demoiselle, 2 male Black-tailed Skimmer, 2 male and a female Scarce Chaser, 1 Common Darter and 1 unid drag sp.

19-20 July 2008 Two days of International Cricket for me and my partner Harriet at Headingley, Leeds, W Yorkshire for the 2nd test, England against SA. Anyone watching Sky or Five coverage would have been able to see me on TV as I was sat on the front row and even dropped a catch at one point (spill the ale or take a clean catch? It was during the Kids Kwik Cricket during the lunch interval). Two SA centurions took the game away from the home side but it was a good couple of days with Sunday being very interesting. Plenty of Swift over the ground. Thanks to Sarah and Jason for a great weekend.

Today at the Test.. Ben, Jason Battye and MJM with a mime presenting Ben with a Birtday Cake.

18 July 2008 An Emperor over the garden and Small Copper on the flowers were new additions to the garden list.

17 July 2008 Nothing to report.

16 July 2008 I spent the morning moving sedges to the new ditch near South Lake and the afternoon at Coombe Hill GWT and Ashleworth Ham GWT with Mike Smart, Dave Paynter, Jackie Birch, Les Brown and Jeremy Squire. We had a good walk around to look at management issues and habitat which resulted in a useful learning session for all. The high density of breeding Redstart at this lowland site is highly commendable and shows what is possible from wetland habitats. I think I may begin calling the Severn Redstarts ‘Wetstarts’, Little Egrets, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and a number of Bullfinch were noted, very nice to see a healthy population of the latter. We also noted 1 Four-spot Chaser, 2 Southern Hawker, 20 Common Darter and a few Blue-tailed Damselfy.

15 July 2008 See WWT site for details.

14 July 2008 I did not do the rounds at WWT but a full list of what was about is on the WWT site. I spent the day translocating emergent wetland vegetation from the pool in the SE corner of the Tack Piece. This will inprove viewing and provide some mud and open edges hopefully attracting crakes/rails into the open. At least two Reed Bunting were in song here.

Oystercatcher, South Lake; make the most of them as they will all dissapear over the nest few weeks and not return until February.

Reed Warbler MJMcGill

13 July 2008 A couple of Landrover safari’s and a search of the Top New Piece provided some interest. The dropping levels had 2 adult Little ringed Plover, 19 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper. Three Yellow-legged Gull,all adults were on the estuary.

12 July 2008 A full day spent in East Anglia, a trip report will appear on the relevant section.

9-11 July 2008 Rather dull reading as the showers have driven water levels up at WWT moving waders on and keeping me indoors during lunchtimes. Yesterday (10th) I spent a bit of time near Middle Point and saw 6 Common Sandpiper (plus one on the Dumbles scrape) 11 Dunlin and heard a Whimbrel.

8 July 2008 Best bird was a magnificent adult breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gull on South Lake when I had a quick look this morning. A Peregrine flew over the Rushy where I was working this afternoon.

7 July 2008 All of my and JSL’s sightings are on the WWT Slimbridge wildlife sightings page. http://www.wwt.org.uk/news/213/sightings.html

First summer Mediterranean Gull, WWT Slimbridge, South Lake MJM

6 July 2008 Another week at work and a good solid introduction to the return migration through the county yet the insects keep us firmly in the summer. At least two male and two female Scarce Chaser were by the 100 Acre viewing platform, my favourite the Broad-bodied Chaser was also represented with two males and a female (first I have seen on the reserve this year). 2 Four-spot Chaser, 20 Ruddy Darter and 10 Common Darter and 1 Black-tailed Skimmer were also here. A quick survey of part of the 100 Acre not visited this summer and c2000 Blue-tailed Damselfly and 200 Common Blue Damselfly, a few Azure were present. An Emperor was hunting the sea wall with more seen along the foreshore.

Scarce Chaser, WWT 100 Acre MJM

The birds were also very good, we compiled a good count of 24 Common Sandpiper (mostly along the foreshore), the Wood Sandpiper is still on site and new waders included an increase in Black-tailed Godwits to 35, an adult male and female Ruff in breeding plumage (also seen y’day), 7 Dunlin on the estuary with a Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel and more. A first summer Mediterranean Gull was on South Lake.

5 July 2008 I have not been out today as yet but Paul Taylor kindly reports seeing 1+ Scarce Chaser near the 100 Acre viewing platform this morning.

4 July 2008 No birding!

Wood Sandpiper at WWT Slimbridge, Holden Tower MJMcGill

3 July 2008 The Wood Sandpiper was still at the Holden Tower, further arrivals of migrants around the WWT reserve was encouraging…3 Little-ringed Plover and a Dunlin were on the Top New Piece, 20 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 9 Yellow-legged Gulls, a Stonechat, 70 Sand Martin, 7 Little Egret were among the highlights. I did an evening Landrover safari where a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull flew past Middle Point, we finished at 1010 and the Jackdaw/Rook roost in the grounds was amazing as 1000,s of birds were involved. JSL saw three of the Scarce Chasers today.

2 July 2008 A Little ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin were on TNP at WWT. Rich and I darvic ringed 4 Black-headed Gull on South Lake, 8 were flying and six gave us the slip. More chicks have hatched and eggs are yet to hatch. Terry Grant found a Wood Sandpiper on the pool on the Dumbles this afternoon.

1 July 2008 I found 8 male Scarce Chasers around the 100 Acre with most on territories and showing mating markings. This is great news as it is a new species for the reserve. Best to look for feeding insects from the viewing platform or Green Lane ditch/gateways. Three pairs of Common Tern are nesting in the 100 Acre.

Painted Lady, South Lake WWT Slimbridge MJMcGill