31 March 2010 Some images from last weekend including the Buuzard which shows characters of Long-legged Buzzard.

Dead Harbour Porpoise, Severn Est.

30 March 2010 My first House Martin (in the UK) of the year from the Holden Tower, WWT along with lots of Swallows today, see WWT site for more sightings from me including the Great White Egret again this afternoon.

The Little Egrets are returning to my area..got to get the nest sites out!

A Jackdaw I saw outside my home this evening, it shows a whitish collar not of the soemmrringii type I see in Finland but an intergrade called monedula (Scandinavian) or a monedula x spermologus (UK version) intergrade.

Far right bird and two images below.

 

24-28 March 2010 Back at WWT I was too busy 24 and 25th for birding but a Swallow was of note on the latter date. I saw 50 Sand Martin and c10 Swallow on the way home at Frampton Townfield Lake. On 28th at WWT I caught up with the French Great White Egret in the 100 Acre, 50 Acre, South Lake and Bottom New Piece as it hopped it’s way South. Mike King tipped me off as it was seen at Saul Warth earlier that morning. On the estuary a dead Harbour Porpoise was stranded on the sands and nearby a Merlin dashed in front of me in the 50 Acre. At 1255 I spotted a Buzzard sp on the 100 Acre/50 Acre hedge which immediately ‘spoke’ to me as being very reminiscent of Long-legged, a species I have seen plenty of and all week in Morocco. Very warm tones against cream stood out. I took some mental notes and shaky digiscoped images as I hung out of the Landrover. When repositioning to get a better view by heading S away from it (it had dropped down onto the ground) it flew off low North which I missed but was seen by my Spanish Volunteer, Pau. Either I am burnt out tired and seeing things or this was a very unusual bird, it’s legs were very long, perching easily on the thorny hedge and appeared to extend well past its red  ‘trousers’ like a Marsh Harrier. It was pale headed and breasted with large reddish chestnut patches on the thighs lightly meeting in the middle and rufous on the uppertail. I noted at least 6 Common Buzzard around the immediate area and none looked anything like this bird.

16-23rd March 2010 I have been away…

The delightful Moussier’s Redstart, Oued Massa Reserve

A week in Morocco touring the country was a wise move, more to follow when I get time with a full trip report.

15 March 2010 No real surprises at WWT today but JSL and I had a Water Pipit over where we were working and he saw the Bittern in the open field of the 100 Acre at 3.45pm. This bird has been seen in the fields a few times in the last week or so perhaps looking for voles. I thought it would have departed by now with ideal migration conditions. At least 9 Bewick’s Swans remained today.

Merlin 1st summer male?
I often see Merlin in transitional moult in March at WWT with presumed young males showing 50/50 blue/grey feathers and retained juvenile worn feathers. This bird is much less advanced than what I usually see but may well moult rapidly at this time of year. The end of March and first week of April is the best time of the year to catch up with this dashing little falcon in my area.

Tail and tertials are very worn but the fresh blue feathers are apparent

 

14 March 2010 A WeBS count a WWT occupied part of my morning and produced the expected drop in numbers. The Greenland White-fronts and Pink-footed Goose remained. Best bird was a Merlin in the 100 Acre which appears to be a first summer male.  I saw a Little Egret over the A38 on the way home.

12 March 2010 Had a good look around Frampton on Severn for Sand Martins this morning but found none. Good to see c10 Redshank around the foreshore floods and 5 Dunlin and a good selection of Duck. Nick Goatman reported 60 Bewick’s Swans over Frampton heading N at 0630, WWT is missing 60 Bewick’s this morning and 55 were seen heading over a site in Norfolk at 1030 this morning! Shame I was asleep then as they would have gone right over my house.

11 March 2010 Rather quieter at WWT as winter birds leave but birds of the week made an appearance for me. JSL and I went to the southern fields of the reserve to collect some sheep netting, it was needed to continue with a major job we have on in the north of the reserve. I walked through the marsh to get the wire and heard two geese flying behind the hedge of the Top New Piece, I had no binocular on me but I called them as Greenland White-fronts and sure enough when they appeared in view of JSL’s bins he confirmed their id and followed them in flight to the Tack Piece. We finished up a few little jobs and made our way to the Stephen Kirk hide, there they were in full view with 110 E. White-fronted Geese and the Pink-footed Goose. Great birds, longer legs, neck, wings, taller, lankier all round with very dark plumage, almost blackish, heavy belly bars and larger white frontal shields. Great birds especially among the Russian cousins. No need for me to mention the most obvious feature which is an orange bill rather than pink.

Greenland (top left two) and Russian White-fronts

Been very busy felling, clearing scrub, fallen timber, stripping out fences and putting in 250 posts to create a new fence to improve and enhance our wetlands. Hope to finish this work by the end of March. Lapwing displaying behind.

4-10 March 2010

Highlights this week are shown by my images, a cold but very sunny week with birds passing through and some winter favourites having to hang on as the wind has been coming from the east.

Eel

The first Little-ringed Plover (LRP) of the year on S. Lake.

 

Jack Snipe,  Top New Piece WWT
Panasonic Lumix DMC F7 (purchased from In Focus) and Swarovksi HD 20-60X65
I saw two very close to where I was mowing, one was in the Top New Piece, the other in the Bottom New Piece, the first I watched, photographed and left to carry on it’s business, the second I showed to JSL, it did fly a short distance and landed nearby in full view. The bobbing action and stealth behaviour was seen with both, they lie down motionless until they feel unthreatened then stalk along bobbing and swaying. The camouflage and colours are remarkable.

What’s that?

Can you see it?

Got to have good eyesight to spot them!!!!

Common Snipe
Highly unusual for it to sit and pose, they normally fly off when you get anywhere near.

Juvenile White-fronted Goose and male Gadwall
The goose now has a white frontal shield, this is not present Oct-late January/February and moults in but note no belly bars yet.

Yellowhammer, I watched c 20 near my home, some of the males were in song in the bright sun.

Pink-footed with the White-fronted Geese.

3 March 2010 The Pink-footed Goose, 186 E White-fronted Geese and 150 Bewick’s Swans and Green-winged Teal remain at WWT Slimbridge.

2 March 2010 I was filming with the Countryfile team today in amazingly lovely weather. A long day with a few good birds thrown in.

My earliest ever White Wagtail, WWT Slimbridge
Seen over the high tide among the tidal debris.

  

Water Pipit, WWT Slimbridge MJM
This bird was obligingly calling regularly. I have been seeing this species at regular intervals around the reserve in the last three years, changes in the management of parts of the reserve have benefited this bird which was previously very scarce. It still remains very hard to see with most views of flyovers as it usually feeds around the scrapes/wet fields etc often in long grass.

 

1 March 2010 Some great weather today.

Lapwing at WWT Slimbridge, Tack Piece
An albanistic bird with white patches on the back, also Redshank and Dunlin with white panels in the wing this week and the white-headed Dunlin seen here this winter.

Pochard at WWT Slimbridge MJM
Large scale departures of this long distance migrant in evidence this week along with many duck species.

Long-tailed Tit at WWT Slimbridge MJM
A species that nests early and should be incubating eggs by the end of the month.

Bittern in flight through the reeds and taken from a boat.

Female Black Redstart at Sharpness 27 February 2010 MJM

Ended Feb with this showy little bird.

26 February 2010 Good to be birding with Jubs locally again, we logged 4 Little Egret and a pair of G.C Grebe at Saul Ponds, plus 160+ Barnacle Geese at the the Court lake Frampton on Severn, c30 Pochard, 80 Tufted Duck and a sinensis Cormorant.

My month in images…

Green-winged Teal readying for a flap..Top New Piece, WWT, Slimbridge, MJM

Pink-footed Goose, South Lake, WWT, Slimbridge, MJM

Merlin on the Dumbles both sexes of this falcon are being seen more regularly from the Holden Tower in the last week.

Whooper Swan on the Tack Piece, seen on three days at WWT this year, where does it go?

The Whoop, left bird with Bewick’s Swans.

A very tame family of Bewick’s Swans are seen daily among the pumps, pipes and mud of the Big Pen development which when finished should see the return of large numbers of Tufted Duck to the pond, we can see them from the office which is very nice indeed.

From the office….

7-25 February 2010 All birding for me has been at work around WWT but great to see lots of breeding activity and some birds on the move over the last week. I have had some luck in locating  male Green-winged Teal at WWT which was still present on the Top New Piece yesterday. Other news to pass on as Gloster Birder is down whilst Mike is away in C.Rica is of a female Hen Harrier WWT, Holden Tower 25th plus Pink-footed Goose, Merlin and the GWTeal. The Whooper Swan was on the Rushy on 23rd. I hope to add some images from this period over the weekend. A Great Spotted Woodpecker in the garden yesterday and 4 Yellowhammer in the field behind were notable for me.

5-6 February 2010 No birding other than from the house windows.

4 February 2010 No sign of the Ring-necked Duck today.

3 February 2010 We had a swan/duck catch at WWT Slimbridge on the Rushy where c 300 birds were trapped and processed. It was good to ring Pochard and Tufted Duck again and 17 Bewick’s Swans were also ringed.

2 February 2010 At work at WWT Slimbridge female Goldeneyes on South Lake and the Rushy was of note, the Ring-necked Duck made a very nostalgic visit to the Rushy 55 years after the first for Europe was found there by Lady Scott. The Ruddy Duck was still on South Lake too.

Female Ring-necked Duck, WWT, Slimbridge, South Lake 1 February 2010 MJM

1 February 2010 The female Ring-necked Duck showed well from the South Lake Obs along with a Ruddy Duck. see below…

The tide on the Severn flooded over the Dumbles breaking the ice and terrifying the geese in particular. In full flood virtually no grass was left and the sight of Canada Geese running ahead of the icy flood, Dunlin riding mini ice floes at 16mph with the tide, panicking White-fronts and 3200 Wigeon, all in bright sunshine and calm conditions was very memorable. The cracking ice was very easily heard from the Holden Tower.

Ring-necked Duck, WWT Slimbridge, South Lake, MJMcGill

31 January 2010 At WWT South Lake the birding was very good today. I checked ut a report of a strange duck that was seen by John Budd and it turned out to be a female/immature Ring-necked Duck. It was 5.00pm and getting dark. A Smew, Ruddy Duck and Goldeneye were also present as was a White-fronted Goose and earlier in the day a Pink-footed Goose.

White-front

RCP

26 January 2010 A nice surpise to see a Pink-footed Goose in with 356 E. White-fronted Geese at WWT today. The Goldeneye was still showing very well at times in front of the Peng obs.

Pink-footed Goose bottom left bird in the Bottom New Piece

24-25 January 2010 Back at WWT with some quality birding with the winter flocks and the Canada Goose showing characters of Todd’s remains among the Canada flock. A redhead Smew and the Bittern were both seen at WWT today.

Crossbills at Brierley

23 January 2010 A day out to the Forest of Dean guiding an Anser Birding group. We had good views of Hawfinches, Crossbills, Goshawk and lots of other birds, I will post a short trip report on the relevant page (trip reports).

A ‘White-headed’ Dunlin, WWT Tack Piece.

22nd January 2010 My local Skylarks have returned, numbering c50, last Sunday and Monday saw a passage of Skylark over WWT all heading N or NE. I have heard that a similar movement was noted at Aylburton, Lydney and Walmore Common on the same days and involving hundreds of birds. Also added Reed Bunting to my local patch list, one was with 5 Yellowhammers near my home.

18-21 January 2010 As 17-18th.

17-18 January 2010 At WWT the thaw has let many birds back into the area, the Canada Goose showing characteristics of Todd’s was still showing well on the Rushy today and yesterday at the feed. It flies onto the Dumbles with the flock of 410 Canada’s. The female Goldeneye was still here also. Two Bitterns remain on the reserve, I managed some decent pics today in the sun. I will upload them when I can.

16 January 2010 No birding today.

15 January 2010 No birding today.

14 January 2010 Again the  goose that shows features of Branta candensis interior  or Todd’s Canada was on the Rushy this morning. The female Goldeneye was also present. I was delighted to see two Woodcock at the South Finger reedbed this morning.  Andy Jayne saw three Red-crested Pochard on the canal at Splatt and also had 5 Whooper Swans near Lydney the day before so it proves there are plenty of birds moving about.

13 January 2010
Watch BBC2 at 8.00pm tonight for Snow Watch featuring WWT Slimbridge.

Bird of the day at WWT was a Canada Goose as found by JSL which shows features of Branta candensis interior  or Todd’s Canada.

12 January 2010 Mike Youdale and I saw a female Merlin on the Dumbles, lots of wildfowl around the ‘water holes’ of South Lake and the Rushy.

11 January 2010 A female Goldeneye has been on the Rushy the last couple of days but a male Red-crested Pochard was a bonus, the regular female Red-crested Pochard x Mallard hybrid was also still present.

10 January 2010 I spent the day with the BBC at WWT Slimbridge trying to get footage of birds in the snow. We did manage to get some results and the programme goes out on Wednesday night at 8.00pm (I think). As a result I did not get a chance to have a good look around.

At least 116 Red-crested Pochard were reported around the country today as far East as the Ouse in Cambs (29 seen) and Cliffe in Kent (7 seen) but 2 had reached Helston/Marazion in Cornwall.

Four Red-crested Pochard were at Frampton today, I did see a couple here last winter but they are uncommon in our area and fairly common in the Cotwold Water Park. Studying the movements of these birds today shows reports of 14 at Cheddar Reservoir, Somerset, one in Devon, four in Hampshire at coastal sites. In the Midlands 25 were in Northants, 2 Berks and 5 in Beds with one as far west as Pembrokeshire. Are these the Wilts/Glos CWP population dispersing or genuine immigrants? Any counts from CWP should reveal what is happening. Ex Gloucestershire county recorder Andy Jayne brought up a very good point last night, where are the Red-necked Grebes? we normally see an influx in such a winter.

9 January 2010 A walk around Frampton Court Lakes footpaths revealed c50 Redwing feeding in snow free patches and 2 Siskin, on the Court Lake c800 birds held a Ruddy Duck and 4 Red-crested Pochard plus c8 Little Grebe and 4 Great Crested Grebe.

Sleeping Ruddy Duck

8 January 2010 Still lots of birds visiting the garden, perhaps 150 or more. Great spotted Woodpecker and male Blackcap and c5 Fieldfare among them.

A phantom view of Bittern

7 January 2010 A very very cold night and day for the birds. On South Lake I saw a female and first winter male Smew and also on the reserve at WWT at least two Bitterns. A selection of images from the stunningly beautiful day at the trust.

Cetti’s Warbler, a sad casualty of the big freeze…

6 January 2010 The heavy snow has brought many more birds into my garden, I have placed halved apples everywhere to create an orchard and this has brought in up to 20 Fieldfare and a new female Blackcap. I have 30 Chaffinch as other feeding sites may be covered with snow. The water has also been popular but needs changing regularly. Common and Black-headed Gull and Magpie are also on the ground in the garden which is unusual. At WWT 300+ Bewick’s Swans are on the Rushy, a good count.

5 January 2010 At WWT Slimbridge the freezing conditions and eventually today, snow has concentrated the birds. A female Smew, probably an adult, female Goldeneye and a male Ruddy Duck could be see with 32 Ruff (probably a winter record), 60 Gadwall and 237 Shelduck, a count of Tufted Duck revealed 666 on site! The Bittern showed at the Zeiss Hide again today.

Smew, female, probably adult MJM
It lacks the black mask that always seems to be apparent on first winter males and any white in the plumage other than what shows on adult females. The white cheek area is not extensive as I have seen in first winter males.

4 January 2010 After ringing 49 duck in the morning (13 in the evening) I re-checked out reports of a swan stuck in ice to find it had freed itself despite leaving many feathers behind. I did see a Bittern, 3 Water Rail, 900 Teal, 4 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, a Rock and Water Pipit whilst around the North end of the reserve.

1-3 January 2010 No birding during the first couple of days of the year but back at WWT on 3rd a few birds were on show.

Blue Tit at the end of 2009 MJM

27-31 December 2009 Back to work at WWT Slimbridge where the conditions were rather heavily overcast but the thaw allowed many birds to return to the fields.

26 December 2009 At last the apples worked and I have my first male Blackcap of the winter.

25 December 2009 Happy Christmas to everyone. A walk around the field next to my house revealed c35 Skylark (they have been here all winter), 1 Stock Dove, 12 Golden Plover over low S, Fieldfare, Redwings, 3 Yellowhammer and a female Blackcap in the orchard mistletoe.

21-24 December 2009 Shops and little birding but for watching the garden feeders. This however is very rewarding as I have seen my second Great Spotted Woodpecker for the garden, a female.

17-20 December 2009 A snowy trip to Slovenia, a trip report will appear soon on the relevant page.

Green-winged Teal, male far right Tack Piece, WWT Slimbridge
The vertical whitish stripe on fore flank clearly visible.

First-winter male Eurasian Teal with vertical leaf!
I have seen this a few times before with feathers/leaves, always check!

6-16 December 2009 A period of large influxes of wildlfowl and waders to the WWT Slimbridge reserve. This time of year allows for very limited birding with such short days and often poor light. I have seen a few things whilst at work but have done absolutlely no birding on my days off.  A few Chiffchaff and Blackcap are wintering but the best birding is widlfowl, wader and Starling watching. A Green-winged Teal added a little Christmas spice to the mix and Bar-tailed Godwits overwintering is unusual for us. Locally Great Northern Divers in the Cotswold Water Park have been a draw for local birders, cold weather movements this week should see the Smew arriving here, perhaps with something else to get the scopes out for.

Barwits, Curlew and assorted wildfowl, Tack Piece.

Starling roost gathering WWT Slimbridge 3 December 2009

1-5 December 2009 A period of favourable winds have brought wildfowl/wader numbers up at WWT, over 200 E.White-fronted Geese and 70 Bewick’s Swans. Other highlights for me have been the Barn Owl through the Rushy whilst doing a floodlit feed on 30 November, the Starling roost at WWT and at least three wintering Chiffchaff and c14 Cetti’s Warblers around the reserve.

At home in Whitminster I have added Merlin (chasing Skylarks) 28 Nov , two male Yellowhammer (Nov and 4th Dec) and a female Brambling (20 and 27th Nov) to the garden list in the last two weeks.

24-30 November 2009 Still more seabirds to end the month with Great Northern Diver being notable on the estuary off WWT.

Exhausted Great Skua at Saul Warth MJM

23 November 2009 The WeBS count can produce a rarity at WWT but today seabirds were on the menu…. after counting much of the reserve we headed for the 50/100 Acre to carry on, first up we missed a Gannet that headed inland but it was not too long before JSL picked up another adult that made it’s way upriver past us and then lingered on the far shore. A Great Skua was found exhausted by Gloster Birders at Saul Warth as well as a petrel sp. We recovered the skua but it died soon after. The petrel turned out to be a Leach’s and we were soon watching four together, sometimes down to  a few feet. It was excellent watching them patter along the surface. Some of these birds were seen to head inland. I picked up another Great Skua on the estuary sat on a sandbar but were too distracted by the wonderful petrels. Heading back to the landrover I picked up two more Leach’s, we made it a minimum of six for the day. A memorable birding spell.  A selection of images below…

16- 22 November 2009 An amazing run of birds at WWT Slimbridge due to gales are all very well documented on the trust website. The pick of the lot for me has been the Pomarine Skua (though distant) on 22nd and what appears to be a Pacific Diver on 18th.

13-15 November 2009 Norfolk for the weekend, a trip report coming soon.

My latest ever Grass Snake, 12 November 2009 MJM

Wood Mice (or is the left one a Yellow-necked)
This cheeky pair were having a ball in our Black Sunflower seed bin MJM

7-9 November 2009 Lots of birds around WWT with 1000’s of Fieldfare and 100’s of Redwing and flocks of Redpoll, Siskin and Meadow Pipit.  The icing on the cake has been the Wilson’s Phalarope on the Top New Piece ( a Gareth Bradbury find).  Today (9th) I saw and heard possible Siberian Chiffchaff that looks and sounds correct.  Two images from the Holden Tower below.

The Wilson’s Phalarope at WWT Slimbridge MJM

 

6 November 2009 A Black Redstart is around the centre buildings at WWT today (per JSL).

The Tundra Bean Geese at WWT MJM

3-5 November 2009 Still the same birds at WWT Slimbridge, am influx of Stonechat and the 34 E.Whitefronted Geese, two Tundra Bean Geese, 2 Cattle Egret and 13 Bewick’s Swans being the best of the birds, a Rock/Water Pipit on 2rd over the 100 Acre would have been more notable if I had a decent view of it.

Bewick’s Swans, WWT Slimbridge

2 November 2009 My leave ended today so back to work at WWT. A Whooper Swan dropped in to the Rushy at 1300 but soon departed so I missed it. Whilst commentating on and feeding the Rushy I spotted the two Tundra Bean Geese flying in on the tail of some Bewick’s Swans (9) before heading back out to the river. I also noted two Cattle Egret this morning and one this afternoon at the N end of the reserve today.

I have uploaded some images from a visit to the Forest of Dean on 27 October 2009 on last months post, we timed it perfectly this year for the autumn colours as the gales yesterday may well have changed things. A warm dry autumn has helped to make it such a good display with ‘leaves falling all around’ (time I was on my way) Led Zeppelin 2, Ramble on.

1 November 2009 Fieldfare and Redwing moving over Whitminster today along with a few hundred Woodpigeon.

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

Common Darter, WWT Bull Ground MJM

Collared Dove, Whitminster MJM
(a pair reared two broods of two in my garden August-September)

Common Blue Damselfly WWT 100 Acre MJM

18 Little Egrets WWT 100 Acre MJM

Red Admiral, Whitminster MJM

26-30 September 2009  The month ended dry, hot and sunny as it has been all month. Not so good for migration but great weather. On 29th I noted my first Jack Snipe of the autumn at the WWT South Lake. On 30th I located three Harvest Mice at the same site which was notable as it is a new site.

Harvest Mouse, WWT South Lake 30 September 2009 M.J.McGill

25 September 2009 A couple of new species for my garden list today, Hornet and Golden Plover over South, also a Siskin went South.

Grasshopper Warbler, WWT 24 September 2009 MJM

22-25 September 2009 Most of my time at work has been spent cutting either in a tractor or using a strimmer.brush cutter. A reward for this graft came in the form of a Corncrake at c3.30pm on 22nd which was running ahead of the tractor tyre before flying into cover on the edge of the field. It showed for a few seconds when I stopped for scan but despite wating until 0530pm did not show again despite me being very quiet and inside the tractor cab from distance. A reserve and Glos tick for me. A few Little Stints are about and the three Cattle Egrets but a smattering of warblers on the 24th was of note, a Grasshopper Warbler being the pick of the bunch.

12-21 September 2009 A busy period, lots of seasonal work to do at WWT and lots of migration. Check the WWT website for the full updates and numbers as it is a lot to write out twice. Highlights have been the general wader watching, the Grasshopper Warbler on the Middle Point wall and an increase in Cattle Egrets. They now number three and were present from 20th at least. A juvenile Marsh Harrier tha Jeremy Squire and I saw through the 100 Acre at 0950 on 12th was of note. A trip to Cornwall 18-19th did not allow any time for birding as I was on Cricket Tour, I did hear a Yellow Wagtail over Wadebridge though. Here is a selection of images from this period. 

Three Cattle Egrets MJM

Cattle and Little Egret (centre) MJM

Wheatear on the Dumbles MJM

Water Shrew, Top New Piece WWT MJM

Skylark with deformed bill on the Dumbles

11 September 2009 Lots of Buzzards over Whitminster and Frampton todayand a light passage of Meadow Pipit.

10 September 2009 At WWT there did not appear to be any new birds about, late news of a phalarope sp off Middle Point @ 1100 came through this morning which was a shame because JSL and I were there at the same time and could have seen it if we had known. At lunchtime the small waders were distant but a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was present which was probably the white-rumped wader we saw yesterday. A Spotted Redshank was seen also and NRS and we saw a large long winged juvenile  falcon go over us and head N.

We were working in the Rushy today where JSL saw an unusual warbler in the bushes around 1130 by our compost pile. We staked it out and got some images and very good views, a number of people came to have a look at this intriguing bird. It has to be said that it is hard to get field views unless scoped to rival the images that have been collected, see the WWT/Gloster Birder website, Simon Mackie shots. It was between the In Focus Shop and Martin Smith Hide.

Slimbridge warbler sp next four images MJM

Next three of Reed Warblers MJM

9 September 2009 Had an early start at 0630 and was out mowing by 0700,  a Spotted Flycatcher around the bushes by Knott Hide and three Bullfinch were noted plus a flyover Yellow Wagtail.

 Short billed grey Dunlin , juvenile, WWT Slimbridge, M.J.McGill

8 September 2009 Some new waders arrived at WWT on the estuary but still concerned mainly three species, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Sanderling (only four).  The scrapes were roughly the same with a juvenile Ruff being the only new bird that I could see this morning. JSL, MY and I went out to Middle Point to spend our break over the tide with the intention of photographing Dunlin and Ringed Plover.

JSL and I led down and Mike stayed in the Landrover as the Dunlin and Ringed Plover came in with a few Sanderling. As the tide was reaching it’s peak I was hearing an unfamiliar wader call withing the flock flying around, I nearly mentioned it to JSL but we were trying to be quiet.

Various birds were dropping in and flying off or running off with the tide flooding but a group landed close by which made for a decent photo attempt. JSL was snapping away and I whispered that a grey bird had arrived, he had noticed it too. I started taking pics of it as I was very interested in it’s plumage. Features of WRS plumage are apparent but it had some dark splodges on either side of the breast which was confusing as I certainly have not seen on juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper before. It did have other features pointing to WRS but but this is nagging at me as it is only present on Dunlin. It moved to a nearby shelf where realising the time we had to go back in for a meeting. As I got into the Landrover I saw the bird again with the Dunlin flock and it stood out like a sore thumb, I scoped it from the wing mirrow but we were out of time and had to go, we simply did not have any break time left. Due to time limitations and the fact we were both using cameras rather than bins and scopes we did not see it fly and missed wether it had a white-uppertail in the field.

7 September 2009 The clearout of longer staying migrants was still in evidence but a Wood Sandpiper that DBP found on a Landrover safari on Saturday was still about, Snipe, Greenshank and Teal numbers are increasing and Green Sandpipers are about in good numbers for September too.

Wood Sandpiper, juvenile MJM

Best bird was either a juvenile Spotted Crake that I spotted whilst we were working or a suspected juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper. Despite searching for the crake we could not relocate it and had a good look today (8th) also but did not see it, it was not viewable from any hides and was easily disturbed.

Sanderling, juvenile MJM

As for the sandpiper, I pulled up at at Middle Point with JSL and clapped my binoculars on the assembled waders, within seconds I was shouting White-rumped Sand and climbing out to get my scope on the moving waders, JSL was also scoping alongside and but I was dissapointed not to get on it, neither did he, I could only see a greyer Dunlin so we left the birds to take some images of the Ringed Plovers.

Ringed Plover, adult MJM

4-6 September 2009 Some decent birds about of which all are listed on the WWT website. Seven Buzzards over my house on my days off were typical for September.

3 September 2009 Still 2+ Curlew Sandpiper at WWT on the estuary, the small waders popped into the Top New Piece with a Little Stint and this site is holding plenty of waders and over 300 Teal. DBP found three White Wagtail among the Pieds. I saw the Cattle Egret in the 50/100 Acre/Bull Ground boundary. A Turnstone and all the small waders inc Curlew Sandpiper were viewable from the Hide at Middle Point at 1630.

Cattle Egret WWT MJMcGill

2 September 2009 My first3  juvenile Curlew Sandpipers of the year, an adult gull showing the charcters of Baltic but discovered at dusk so the camera could not get the image.  Spotted Redshank, 4 tern sp,and 30 Knot were also notable. Most waders roosted in the Top New Piece.

Probable Baltic Gull WWT MJM
It is the bird in the water, Istudied on the mud for ten minutes before it walked in and floated off, it was getting dark and the camera could not cope. Through the Swarovski scope (great at low light) I could see it well alongside 100’s of graellsii. It was smaller in structure, very long bright yellow legs (brighter than any others near it), black back, darker than all others around it, very long wings, small mirrows, overall a soft more common gull look about it. Always think it best to mention birds like this rather than forget it just for the courtesy of fellow birders.

1 September 2009 No birding.

30 -31 July 2009 A few new waders about at WWT Slimbridge but a quiet end to the month.

Anser Birding Madeira 13-18 July 2009  images on the link below

http://www.anserbirding.com/photos/svmanager/g28/

Trip report now live on thetrip reports page.

29 July 2009 A rotten wet day, at WWT over 750 Sand Martin were ‘grounded’. I counted 340 along the fences at the 100 Acre.

Suffering Sand Martins…

Spitfire, Whitmimster

Yellow-legged Gulls  WWT Slimbridge MJM

21-27 July 2009 A busy period at WWT with the best birding involving gulls and waders. My first moulting adult Whinchat of the autumn noted today (27th) plus a Southern Hawker. The dragonfly pool at the South Finger has Brown Hawker, Emperor, Common Darter and Southern Hawker this week plus Blue-tailed and Common Blue Damselfly.

Brown Hare WWT Slimbridge MJM

This juvenile Mediterranean Gull was ringed in Oye Plage, Calais, France on 16 June 2009. I saw it on the WWT Top New Piece. This French site has featured three times on Anser trips.

19-20 July 2009 Downpours at WWT with hot, sunny spells still made for good birding and insect watching. A male Ruff is among the scrape waders and yesterday 103 Dunlin, 8 Sanderling and 4 Red Knot joined the Black-tailed Godwits and Curlew on the estuary. One of the godwits has a white feather on the wing which stands out from distance.

13-18 July 2009 An early hours start and late return from the Anser Madeira trip…..a trip report is in preparation covering our sightings and images. Andy Jayne found a Squacco Heron whilst waiting for his pizza! More to come soon….

9-12 July 2009 A weekend off was busy but very rewarding, my son’s Sports day on 10th.  Congratulations to my old mate Nick Goatman and his new wife Rachel, thank you to them for letting us share a lovely day on 11th.  A day at the Ashes in Cardiff with my partner Harriet, Jeremy Squire and Steve Dark saw a gripping finale to the first test, the best draw I have ever seen and what a batting performance from Monty and Jimmy.

8 July 2009 No birding for me today but a few things seen from the tractor cab including 35+ Tufted Ducklings with 7 females on the Long Ground Pool.

7 July 2009 A day at Buckingham Palace, I was invited along with Harriet to the Garden Party. We got there on time parking at the front gate of the palace near the grand entrance. A stroll along the Mall to Trafalgar Square for lunch and then a look around the National Gallery was all very interesting. The famous and iconic Sunflowers by Van Gogh (reminds me of the Arles, S. France connection as it is where we stay on the Anser trips)  and the Execution of Lady Jane Grey, Paul Delaroche were my personal favourites, the latter very evocative and a reminder of how brutal life in Britain could be. Click on the link for full details and a view

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paul-delaroche-the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey

The afternoon was spent in the gardens where the Queen mingled with various people in line. She stopped to talk with a trio of forces (RAF, Army and Navy) girls that were next to us. After this we headed for the Tea tent and had a lovely selection of sandwiches and cake with out tea on the lawn. Whilst looking for the Chamomile Lawn we were caught in a downpour that turned into torrential monsoon like rain and eventually thunder and lightning low overhead, the largest hail stones I have ever seen dropped on us, many as large as my thumbnail. Quite spectacular weather causing the paths to turn to rivers and the lawns to lakes, wetland creation in London. Glad we bought a brolly from Boots.

Previa at the Palace, exclusive parking

MJM at Buckingham Palace 7 July 2009
To all the Anser friends on the 4-5 July trip…this proves I did buy a new suit

Norfolk Hawker, Strumpshaw Fen RSPB MJM

4-5 July 2009 The Rare breeding bird visit to East Anglia incorporated some new habitats and sites. See the trip report coming soon..

Stone Curlew ‘undisclosed site’ Norfolk

White-faced Darter, Whixhall Moss NNR, Shropshire MJM

White-faced Darter, Whixhall Moss NNR July 2009 MJMcGill

Silver-studded Blue, Prees Heath Butterfly Conservation Reserve
Shropshire MJM

Territorial Black Darter, Whixhall Moss NNR Shropshire

Emerald Damselfly, Whixhall Moss NNR , Shropshire MJM

Black Darter (teneral=recently emerged) Whixhall Moss NNR, Shrops MJM

Silver-studded Blue, Prees Heath, Shropshire MJM

Four-spotted Chaser, Whixhall NNR, Shropshire, MJM
Also has a creamy face but much larger and stockier with no red.

Ruddy Darter MJM

Brown Brown Hawker, WWT, MJM

Female Emperor ovipositing MJM

29-30 June 2009 Still great insect weather, temperatures this weeks heatwave of up to 30 c has been good for butterflies and dragonflies. New birds include a breeding plumage, blackish form male Ruff at WWT today.

Shoveler brood WWT.

Baby Water Vole, WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre MJM

28 June 2009 The WWT landrover safari’s were very productive again today. The very warm weather made it a great day for insects. My first 2 Brown Hawkers of the year and 6 Marbled Whites. A Water Vole in the 100 Acre and at the Centre entrance wiith three young were appreciated by many. Also noted today a 1st summer and adult Yellow-legged Gull, Hobby, 2 Shoveler broods, 12 Green Sandpiper, 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 90 Redshank including 2 fledged juveniles and a fluffy juvenile in the Top New Piece. Cuckoo and Kingfishers at the Kingfisher Hide. Stacks of dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies of many species. On the estuary a Whimbrel, 100 Curlew, 200 Shelduck and thousands of gulls feeding in the mud.

Brown Hawker, WWT South Finger near the new dragonfly pond.

First summer Yellow-legged Gull

27 June 2009 A few damselflies about the garden and a chaser sp.

26 June 2009 A walk out at Frampton in the torrential rain produced singing Common and Lesser Whitethroat prior to the deluge, breeding plumage Spotted Redshank, Redshank pair with young and Lapwing with young at Saul Warth and a lot of water. A Common Whitethroat was singing adjacent to my garden.

25 June 2009 Generally numbers still building at WWT, six Green Sandpiper, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, a Dunlin, 9 Redshank and 40 Lapwing were on the Top New Piece but were eclipsed by a singing Quail that was clearly audible from the Zeiss Hide. Many visitors are seeing and photographing Otter from the Kingfisher Hide where Cuckoo and Whitethroat are also on territory. I may have glimpsed a Lesser Emperor at work today. At least three pairs of Common Tern are now nesting on the 100 Acre.

Had a couple of days off at home (except for covering the 1850-2220 period at WWT on safari/bar-b-q), highlight was a Spitfire performing stunts over the garden, due to 350mph speeds I never got a decent shot of this iconic aircraft with it’s beautiful sound.

Spitfire MK 4? in D Day landing livery, Whitminster.

23 June 2009 The safari was excellent at WWT Slimbridge this evening, a very warm evening, thousands on Meadow Browns on the wing, my first Southern Hawker of the year, Emperors out in the dark!, 40 Sand Martin and 30 Starling coming into roost, Barn Owl hunting at sunset, a great Severn Bore etc etc.

May Hill, The Severn Estuary and Barn Owl MJM

Barn Owl and Fretherne Sluice in the distance.

22 June 2009 RDH and myself ringed 18 juvenile Black-headed Gulls on the South Lake late in the afternoon. The Common Terns on South Lake are nesting on the small pier I built to gravel the island over a couple of years ago. An Oystercatcher also had a nest with one damaged egg in it. The Bottom New Piece flood had 30 Black-tailed Skimmers over it this afternoon. On the tide, six Yellow-legged Gulls (second summers and adults)were the highlight at WWT today.

Pyramidal and Bee Orchids WWT Slimbridge June 2009 MJM

   

Female Tufted Duck and young WWT Slimbridge MJM

Common Redshank WWT Slimbridge June 2009 MJM

10-21 June 2009 Not many posts lately but still plenty going on locally among the breeding birds. A Snipe was a very intriguing record from WWT today, maybe a breeder? At least two possibly three broods of Shoveler at work today made me very happy. One brood contains 10 ducklings and are very well grown.  Tufted Duck are now hatching young everywhere, another highlight of the summer and it is time for the orchids.

9 June 2009 Our breeding waders are always a highlight.

Lapwing chick MJM

8 June 2009 Another look at the breeding plumage waders at WWT which roosted and fed very near to Middle Point hide at low tide. Now 5 Grey Plover, a Red Knot, 3 Turnstone (all first summers), the Curlew Sandpiper which is a first summer and a small flock of Ringed Plover including many first summers and a juvenile and c 40 Dunlin.

First summer Turnstone MJM

First summer Curlew Sandpiper MJM

Curlew Sanderling!

Sanderling MJM

7 June 2009 A birdwatch morning at WWT focussing on waders was very good, 4 Grey Plover (two in fine breeding plumage), a Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, 15 Sanderling and Dunlin and Ringed Plover all in breeding plumage.

6 June 2009 A wet day! almost forgot what they are like.

5 June 2009 Went to Ashleworth Ham again, the Redstarts were showing well along the road and Cuckoo singing. Next stop Cannop Ponds and brook with my target being the Golden-ringed Dragonfly, we found 4-5 and saw them resting, feeding, patrolling territories and even ovipositing in the Cannop Ponds. A family of Grey and Pied Wagtail were around the stoneworks. At Lydney Lakes I saw my first Tufted Ducklings of the year (3). A look at Saul Warth and Townfield Lake did not produce much out of the ordinary. News of a shrike sp at Coombe Hill today GWT and the Rosefinch seen again at Ashleworth Ham GWT on Wednesday shows that birds are still around/arriving.

The magnificent Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Cannop Stoneworks, MJMcGill.

2-4 June 2009 Lots of dragonfllies locally. A roundup in images follows, also a Bee swarm at WWT was nearly collected by a Bee Keeper but they did not want to go in the box.

Hairy Dragonfly, WWT 100 Acre MJM

 

Broad-bodied Chaser, WWT MJM

Black-tailed Skimmer, Saul Warth

Scarce Chaser, WWT Bull Ground, MJM

Four-spotted Chaser, Forest of Dean, MJM

1 June 2009 Up at 0440 to get to WWT for what ended up as four live and one recorded appearance for the BBC news. The Painted Lady invasion was the topic and the hot dry starts to the day certainly helped.

31 May 2009 A long day at WWT with the bird highlight being two Red Kites over the 100 Acre. I left work at 1800 and went straight to search for the Ashleworth Ham GWT  Common Rosefinch with NRS, PJT and RGB but our effort went unrewarded. 

Red Kites over the WWT 100 Acre, 31 May 2009
Note the primary moult.