Garganey at Frampton

29 March - after a bit of searching, Mike King found yesterday's drake Garganey at Saul Warth (photo, copyright Richard Tyler), with another drake and a female. Good views had in increasingly windy conditions mid-morning. The usual waders present, see entry for 27 March. Also a Swallow flew S with Sand Martins, and a Tawny Owl seen in a nestbox nearby.

Frampton and CWP

27 March - a morning visit to Frampton gave a distant view of the Green-winged Teal (photo, copyright Paul Masters), together with a (the?) Cattle Egret and an assortment of waders - Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Dunlin, Little Stint and Snipe, with a single Grey Plover.
An afternoon trip to the CWP in good weather produced a couple of Little Ringed Plovers - on pits 79 (Glos) and 82 (Wilts) - also Ringed Plover, Redshank on 4 different pits, Green Sandpiper, Snipe and Curlew. Nice to get out in calm weather and springlike sunshine.

Bonaparte's and Franklin's Gulls, and a Red-necked Grebe....

24 March - an excellent Easter Monday. First stop Cheddar Reservoir, where after a short wait I had very good views of the first-winter Bonaparte's Gull - compared with Black-headed, it looked smaller and more delicate, with a large head smudge, grey nape and black bill. In flight the upperwing contrast and pink legs were obvious, see lower pic. A Red-necked Grebe at Cheddar was seen down to 20 yds, and is now moulting into summer plumage. See upper pic I took by the tower. Also seen, 50+ Sand Martins.
Then on to Chew Valley Lake, where distant views of the Franklin's Gull were obtained from Woodford Lodge. Distinctive darkish grey mantle, with black hood, fairly rounded wings.
A quick stop at Marshfield en route home produced 3 Wheatears including 2 males, my first of the year.

Drake Scaup at CWP

21 March - horizontal hail/sleet on Good Friday! A drake Scaup was with a few Tufted Duck on pit 79 at Keynes Park - also there an Oystercatcher and 2 Redshank with 2 Green Sandpipers (on 79 and 87).

Red-throated Diver and Little Ringed Plover

20 March - My first Little Ringed Plover of the year - my earliest ever - braved the northerly wind, trying to display over pit 82 at CWP. 2 Ringed Plovers still present at Kent End Quarry with a Green Sandpiper.

20 March - Another more distant view of the Red-throated Diver. Top photo taken by Stephen Burch.

19 March - a superb, summer plumaged Red-throated Diver seen early morning, before work, at Coate Water - close in at the dam end.

3 Woodpeckers in a morning

15 March - my 45th birthday.....a calm morning, and a visit to Stanton Country Park produced a drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, also at least 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a calling Green. Also seen was a Red Kite low over the wood - are they breeding nearby?
A later walk around Keynes Country Park produced 6 Green Sandpipers on the new diggings, also 2 Redshanks, 2 Sand Martins, 4 Shelduck, 3 Little Egrets and a Grey Wagtail.

Brent Goose at Slimbridge

8 March - a quick afternoon visit to Slimbridge and the Brent Goose (dark-bellied) was still present from the Holden Tower - a fairly rare bird in Glos, my second I think. Also an Oystercatcher on Tack Piece.

Wallcreeper within sight of Blighty!

1 March - a day trip with Anser Birding to N France courtesy of the Channel Tunnel. The main target, the wintering Wallcreeper at Wimereux, was seen well, feeding and wing-flicking on the cliffs. Hardelot Forest produced Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Crested Tit and Lesser Spotted and Black Woodpecker (heard). 3 Med Gulls were at Boulogne, and Grand Fort Philippe beach held 7 Shore Larks and 30 Snow Buntings. the general area also produced a couple of ringtail Hen Harriers. A very worthwhile day trip, I imagine the area would be excellent in spring with all the summer visitors in evidence - Honey Buzzard, Bluethroat, White Stork etc.