Hobbies return to CWP

30 Apr - 3 Hobbies feeding over pit 57 late afternoon, very good to see them back, elegant as always and a thrill to see them again. Also a suite of warblers (except Grasshopper), Common Terns and LRPs around CWP. Nightingales singing at pits 43 and 74.

A second chance for the Hudwit!

29 Apr - Unbelievably, after missing the 3rd ever Hudsonian Godwit for the UK (and the first since 1988) on 25th as I was inconveniently located in Spain......it returned to the Somerset levels and Meare heath today! A trip down the M5 after work, and by 6.50 pm I was watching the bird in the evening sunshine, in the company of a flock of Black-tailed Godwits - very distinctive with its blackish plumage and chestnut cap - I had a glimpse of the dark underwing when it was preening. A very rare visitor to the UK/Europe, as it migrates down a central / western route in North America rather then the east coast flyway. A male Marsh Harrier also seen, and a Bittern heard booming. Photos JM.

Home again

26 Apr -

Catalonia day 2

Catalonia day 1

Apr 24 - Day 1 of 2 days with Carles in Catalonia again, and a bird race day - we ended with over 100 species. Sunny in the morning, then cloudy and breezy in the afternoon. A really good day of migration action and Mediterranean specialties. We started in a coastal woodland that held a flock of migrant Bee-Eaters, Turtle Doves and Iberian Green Woodpecker. Then the Garraf mountains, just inland from Barcelona, lovely scenery and good birds - Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrikes, Ortolan and Cirl Buntings, Black-eared Wheatear, Subalpine and Dartford Warblers, as well as flyover Red-rumped Swallow and Alpine Swifts. A roadside stop produced the expected Blue Rock Thrush, as well as Crag Martin and a superb Short-toed Eagle. Then on to Llobregat reserve - Hoopoe, Pied Flycatcher and Redstart from the woodland paths, then an amazing panorama from the hide - Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers, Wood and summer Curlew Sandpipers, nesting Stilts, a Collared Praticole, a brief visit from a flock of Whiskered and a Gull-billed Tern, Greater Flamingoes and Glossy Ibis, not to mention displaying Purple Herons, and close cryptically plumaged Snipe. Then at the other section of the reserve, several Great Reed Warblers were singing and close views were had of the world's 3rd largest Audouin's Gull colony, on an island in the river. Avocets fed on the sandbars and a pair of Garganey were on the floods. Most unexpected at Llobregat was a flyover migrant Roller, presumably en route to the steppes, or further north to Southern France. The day ended with Alpine Swifts circling the hotel, and a total for the day of well over 100 species. And, tomorrow, the Ebro delta!

Cotswold Water Park......

21 Apr -

Farmoor migrants

19 Apr - cloudy and chilly with an east breeze, but 2 Yellow wagtails, a Swift, 30 House Martins, 30 Swallows, and 2 Arctic Terns with at least 20 Common Terns.

More Warblers

Apr 18 - Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler added to the list for this spring on a brief stop at CWP.........

Oh to be in England now that April's here......

17 Apr - 5-6 Ring Ouzels at Liddington this afternoon, 3-4 males and 2 females - very elusive, but one sat up for a few seconds.....and a beautiful cool fresh breeze after the humidity of Texas. Also 30-40 Yellowhammers and several singing Corn Buntings. An hour in the evening at CWP produced Nightingale, Cuckoo, Sedge and Reed Warbler, and, surprisingly, Lesser Whitethroat, despite a cool wind.

Texas in spring.......9-16 April

9-16 Apr -

Warblers starting to arrive.......

Apr 8 - My first singing Willow Warbler of the year at Waterhay/68 this evening, also 2 singing Blackcaps, along with Cetti's Warblers and Chiffchaffs.

Greenham Common

Apr 6 -

Avocet at.......Shorncote........

Apr 5 -

Ring-necked Ducks.......4 !

Apr 4 -