Tuesday 24 June 2008

Nightjar and Woodcock in the Forest of Dean


24 June - an evening visit to Boy's Grave in the Forest of Dean, some cloud, no wind, quite warm. At 9.50pm a roding Woodcock appeared, then at 9.55pm a pair of Nightjars flew close by, the male wing-clapping with white wing patches conspicuous in the gloom. Churring started and continued intermittently until I left. Another churring male on the other side of the rosd was audible from the car park. Glos 08 year list is up to 167.

Friday 20 June 2008

Corncrake....in Berks

20 June - late evening visit to Hurst in Berks, and the male Corncrake that has been present for approx 2 weeks called briefly, distantly then closer, from the set-aside field. Not seen! Also a Little Owl calling, and a Barn Owl hunting at dusk.

Sunday 15 June 2008

Otmoor


14 June - a brief early afternoon visit, Grasshopper Warbler singing continuously by the car park, one Turtle Dove heard along the bridleway, also Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail heard. A Little Egret flew over and up to 11 Hobbies were hawking over the reedbed.

Thursday 12 June 2008

American Herring Gull at Chew


12 June - the probable American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) seen at Herriott's Pool, Chew Valley Lake, early afternoon. Very large, heavy-chested, long hooked bill, deeper voice and the right primary pattern on P7-P10 apparently...a very good candidate. Extremely aggressive to all the other large gulls in the area.

Tuesday 10 June 2008

Nightjars and Woodcocks at Snelsmore, and a Quail at Hawling


6 June - a late evening visit to Snelsmore Common near Newbury, in cool, fine weather, and excellent flight views of a pair of Nightjars displaying, white wing patches prominent, and then the male churring from a dead tree. Also a couple of Woodcock roding overhead.
10 June - an evening visit to the set-aside fields at Hawling in fine weather, and I heard a Quail calling briefly at 8.40pm. A Glos tick! and number 165 for the Glos year list. Also a Hobby over the A417 at Duntisbourne on the way home.

Wednesday 4 June 2008

Red-footed Falcon along the Thames


2 June - a poor view in evening rain of the immature male Red-footed Falcon at Kempsford by the River Thames. The photo (copyright, Richard Tyler) was taken earlier in the day, I saw a silhouette towards dusk.....

Sunday 1 June 2008

Outer Hebrides






28-31 May 2008 - a brief trip to the Western Isles, the weather still holding. First, the RBA Sula Sgeir overnight trip - lots of seabirds seen, including Bonxies, Arctic Skuas and all 4 auks, but no Black-browed Albatross...
then the ferry over to Lochmaddy, North Uist, and a day of beautiful sun on the lochs and beaches. Large numbers of breeding waders in the fields and especially on the coast in the Balranald area - Redshanks everywhere (pic), also Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, and drumming Snipe. A pair of Hen Harriers, a Short-eared Owl and, amazingly, 2 perched adult Golden Eagles, were along the interior road. I heard at least 6 Corncrakes (photo) at Balranald in the evening but couldn't see any of them.
Finally, both Red- and Black-throated Divers seen on various mainland roadside lochs, and a group of 5 Great Northern Divers in summer plumage were at the E end of Broadford Bay on Skye.