CWP - Hobbies are back!

26 April - a quick late morning check produced little new on Kent End Quarry except a Dunlin. At pit 57, 9 Hobbies hawked for insects giving very good views at times, and a first-summer Little Gull was with the Common Terns. Glos year list up to 153.

Glos and Berks

25 April - a morning visit to Ashleworth Ham - 2 Redstarts singing, also 2 Cuckoos, a Garden Warbler and 2 Whitethroats. Later at Frampton and Fretherne - summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank by Splatt Bridge together with 2 Cattle Egrets, then on the high tide - 8 Whimbrels, also a Sanderling and a Grey Plover with the Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Finally, a Black Tern at pit 16 at CWP.
I diverted to Bury Down en route home on news of a male Dotterel (above) - quite a dull individual, seen well in a ploughed field, surprisingly cryptic and difficult to see.
In the evening, 28 terns including at least 6 Arctics dropped into pit 16 - and there were 14 Whimbrel on Kent End Quarry at 8.15pm. The Black Tern had moved to pit 74, together with an adult and 2 first-summer Little Gulls.

Ross's Gull

24 April - the continued presence of an adult Ross's Gull tempted me onto the M6 early morning and 3h later I was at Lytham St Anne's on the Ribble Estuary - the bird had been relocated just before I arrived and I spent an hour watching it - superb dainty gull with a pink wash on the underparts, gentle facial expression, wedge-shaped tail and white primaries in flight. Fantastic Arctic waif! A couple of my record shots above.
The Glossy Ibis was also seen at Warton Bank, 3m upriver. Waders on the estuary included flocks of Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plover, with a few Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit. Migrants Swallows were flying around in the sun. An excellent morning.

23 April - A quick look at Kent End Quarry at CWP in the evening produced a Common Sandpiper and a calling Whimbrel, also the 2 Greenshanks still present.

Pallas's Warbler at Frampton!

20 April - after a fruitless 2hrs last evening, the Pallas's Warbler was singing and showing well on arrival at the sailing lake this morning - flitting actively, stripes and yellow rump seen well (photo, copyright Richard Ford) - also singing - a Wren/warbler cross with some trills and mimicry. Excellent! A first for the county. Also an early Hobby over, and a Common Sandpiper on the sailing lake.
Rather cold and cloudy. A Cuckoo seen and sang briefly by Splatt Bridge. 2 Cattle Egrets in the field behind the church, and a few Little Egrets on the marsh. Cetti's and Sedge Warblers heard at Frampton, and a Reed Warbler heard and a Lesser Whitethroat seen at Slimbridge.

Scotland

18/19 April - an overnight visit to Scotland, fine weather forecast, rain down south. I flew to Edinburgh, then drove to Inverness via Vane Farm (no Ross' Goose) and Loch of Lowes, where an Osprey circled over the loch. A fine evening driving up the A9, a lot of snow visible on the Cairngorm massif. A (very) early start in the morning for the Capercaillie watch at Loch Garten resulted in a glimpse of a male - also a Crested Tit and a Red Squirrel on the feeders, and the female Osprey incubating on the nest (lower). On Tulloch Moor Black Grouse could be heard lekking, and Curlews song-flighted on the bog. The Farr road produced a few Red Grouse (middle), and the Findhorn valley a Golden Eagle gliding over pursued by a Peregrine. A herd of c50 Red Deer were on the slopes across the river. Loch Vaa and Loch Ruthven both held Slavonian Grebes (upper at Loch Ruthven). A successful but tiring 24 hours - fantastic views of the West Highlands on the flight back to Bristol, including Ben Nevis and the Cuillin ridge, snow-capped in the sun. As they say, Haste Ye Back.

CWP local patch.....

17 April - a morning look around the usual haunts - Kent End Quarry produced an amazing 13 Yellow Wagtails including 12 in the scope together. Due to the easterly breeze? Also a Greenshank, 3 Ruff, Redshank, RP and LRP. Pit 79 held a Dunlin and a Yellow Wagtail, plus Redshank/LRP/RP. 3 Nightingales were singing at 8am at Swillbrook and I saw one briefly. Reed Warblers are in - one at pit 6 and at pit 31.

Upton Warren

16 April - an hour in the evening en route back from the NEC. 8 Avocets breeding this year - also at the flashes a Cuckoo, presumably freshly arrived, resting on a post. LRP and Redshank close to the hide, singing Cetti's Warbler and a Little Egret. At the Moors Pool - adult Little Gull, Common Sandpiper, several Snipe but no sign of the Jack Snipe. Well worth the short diversion off the M5.

Penduline Tit ringed at Waterhay.......

14 April - a female Penduline Tit ringed this morning at Waterhay but not seen again....otherwise, a Yellow Wagtail with the usual waders at pit 95.

Sedge Warbler and Ruff in CWP

12 April - an early morning visit to CWP in showery weather, chilly but bright. The first Sedge Warblers of the year were singing at Waterhay/68 (Wilts) and pit 6 (Glos). Kent End Quarry held 3 Ruff (Google pic) and a Dunlin in addition to the usual LRP, RP and Green Sandpiper. A single Curlew flew over Waterhay.

CWP Keynes Park again....

10 April - a productive morning again in CWP, a good mix at pit 79 with a Yellow Wagtail and 4 White Wagtails (see pics), 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Ringed and 4 Little Ringed Plovers, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Oystercatcher and Snipe still present and 26 flyover Golden Plover. I am actually first equal on the Glos year listers website at present on 136....in Wilts, 3 LRPs at pit 82 with Cetti's Warbler and Blackcap singing and Water Rails squealing; at KE Quarry LRP, RP and Redshank. A Wheatear and 2 Swallows at Blakehill to finish off an enjoyable morning.

CWP waders and migrants

8 April - a quick evening visit to CWP produced a Common Tern at pit 16 (Glos), also there 2+ House Martins with Swallows and Sand Martins. At KE Quarry (Wilts), 2 Ringed Plovers (pic), 2 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers and 9 Curlew. Water levels there have dropped a bit and it looks excellent for wader passage.

Spring Snow!

6 April - an unseasonal covering of snow this morning....soon started to melt in the spring sun. A shock for the early migrants. In the afternoon I saw c150 Sand Martins, and c15 Swallows, frantically feeding over pit 16 at CWP in the middle of a heavy snow shower.

More migrants

3,4 April - CWP. A good variety of waders seen during the week at Keynes Park pit 79 and at KE quarry - Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers (displaying), also Golden Plover, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Redshank, Green Sandpiper and a Little Stint at KE quarry. 2 White Wagtails were on pit 79 on 3 April.

5 April - an excellent early morning visit to Cleeve Hill produced a flighty and elusive pair of Ring Ouzels (upper, photo copyright Gloster Birder) by the 11th tee on the golf course, also 3 Wheatears (see lower photo) in the same area. A male Stonechat was also seen, and at nearby Hawling a Corn Bunting was singing.