1-31 October 2009, Martin’s blog and sightings..

Some images of the Forest of Dean from 27 October 2009. Most views either from Speech House or New Fancy View.
A great autumn for colours this year.

25-31 October 2009 No birding at all after doing nothing but for all of last week.

19-24 October 2009 A trip to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. A trip report online soon…

Yellow-browed Warbler, Nanquidno Valley, Cornwall MJM

18 October 2009 A slow start to the day but improved later with the highlights at WWT being two showy Jack Snipe on the Tack Piece, one in front of the Robbie Garnett Hide and theother with a Cetti’s and Water Rail at the Martin Smith Hide. A Little Stint was among 200 Dunlin on the Top New Piece.

17 October 2009 No birding as such but visible migrtion over the garden all day. A Painted Lady was of note as was Speckled Wood.

16 October 2009 A very misty and drizzly start to the day ended sunny and dry. I went out to Splatt Bridge this morning to see if anything was moving about and bumped in to KC who was looking for the Cattle Egrets. Having recommended just looking from the gate we were quickly rewarded with three of them feeding and flying about, two headed east over the canal. A few other species flew over, c70 Redwing, c4 Snipe, Grey Wagtail and a few Meadow Pipits but shortly speculating on the arrival of a Glossy Ibis we were rewarded by good views of one that flew out of the 100 Acre and dropped down twice into long grass in front of us before heading low N toward Saul Warth.

Glossy Ibis, WWT Slimbridge 100 Acre and Splatt Bridge MJM
following two images

15 October 2009 The overnight easterlies and drizzly start to the day brought some new birds in. Now 7 E.Whitefronted Geese (ten by the end of the day) and 2 male Ruddy Shelduck feeding with the geese. 4 Dark-bellied Brent were on the estuary an all these birds viewable from the Holden Tower whilst I did the morning rounds. A Glossy Ibis was seen at Lydney (John Phillips). I also saw the Jack Snipe in the Martin Smith hide pool in the afternoon.

14 October 2009 The five E.White-fronted Geese were still present and nine large, pale continental type Greylag Geese have arrived and reside among the local birds but on the reserve. A few more Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Redwing (100’s), Siskin over WWT today, a Yellowhammer also and a Jack Snipe see images…

Jack Snipe, images x 3 Martin Smith pool, WWT. MJM

We are back down to three Cattle Egrets…MJM

13 October 2009 White-fronted Geese (all adults) arrived on the Dumbles today just 19 hours after we re-mooo-ved the cattle for their arrival. A few Siskin and Redwing were passing over today. An afternoon twitch to London for the Brown Shrike was worthwhile. We also saw a total of 7 Ring-necked Parakeet and Red Kite on the M4.

Apparent Brown Shrike, Staines Moor near Heathrow (did it get a lift).

12 October 2009 A report of a Glossy Ibis at 1230 from the Zeiss Hide at WWT today but we could not locate it anywhere on the reserve from 1600-1730. Three Cattle Egret remained and 2 Redpoll and a Siskin were seen along with a Coal Tit. Four Stonechat and a Whinchat were on the 100 Acre fences.

11 October 2009 A few migrants at WWT Slimbridge, a Siskin, 24 Redwing (first of the autumn), a Rock Pipit and a count of 5900+ wetland birds of which 1899 were Teal.

10 October 2009 A walk around the Forest of Dean for the afternoon was very pleasant but the colours have not really kicked in in the foliage as yet. Highlights were 4 Crossbill, Siskins, Coal Tits and 2-3 Common Hawkers.

9 October 2009 A Jay over my house.

4-8 October 2009 Very little migration, what I have seen I have placed on the WWT website. WWT has changed our log-in etc to a new website system which has meant no updates at WWT last week, this is now up and running again but will mean that you need to re-save it as a favourite to view. Lots of Hornets about plus Painted Lady. A few new birds about but only singles or arriving winter birds. A Coal Tit was in the 100 Acre, my first reserve record this year.

2-3 October 2009 A couple of days off from birding. A late afternoon visit to Hock Cliff produced a Wheatear.

1 October 2009 At WWT I spent from 1045-1730 mowing various parts of the 100 Acre basically management for the breeding waders and wintering birds. I saw a few things from the cab with the highlights being two late male Common Blue Damselflies, c 10 Snipe, 26 Little Egrets and on leaving the site now four Cattle Egrets among the organic stock. This is the largest gathering of this species in Gloucestershire and looks set to increase further.

A selection of favourite images from late September and 1 October follow…

Harvest Mouse and Ford 5030 MJM