CWP pit 132

27 Aug - An early evening visit to probably the best current wader spot in CWP and a good variety of waders on show - as well as a Wood Sandpiper, 3 Greenshanks, 4 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sands and a juv LRP. A Hobby was perched up in a dead tree. Definitely worth keeping an eye on this drained pit the next few weeks.

Otmoor

26 Aug - A morning visit to Otmoor on a fine bank holiday Saturday with increasing sun, warm and humid. initially quiet but a few things in view from the first screen - 6 Snipe, a Greenshank, Green and Common Sandpipers, a flyby Kingfisher, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, 6 Red Kites, and briefly on a dead twig, my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year. Following directions from Peter Barker the warden, I headed over to the fields adjacent to the rifle range and the old hedgerow and scattered bushes here held 3-4 Redstarts, including 2 obliging males, also another Spot Fly and a mixture of passage warblers. Using an old target wall as cover it was possible to get good views of the Redstarts flycatching. A Hobby also flew over here. Home just as the traffic was starting to build.

Water Voles at RWB...... and Blakehill

25 Aug - I'd heard a lot about the Water Voles on the restored canal at Wootton Bassett so I went to have a look this morning - and very obliging they are. I saw 5 in half an hour...... fairly quick in and out of the bankside vegetation, but a few photos had as they swam low in the water collecting food. lots of bankside tunnels obvious to see. An evening walk at Blakehill was productive - 3 Redstarts including a male that perched out - a Wheatear - and a brief Whinchat. Also 2 Lesser Whitethroats with 4-5 Whitethroats, and Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

WWT again

24 Aug - Another early visit to Slimbridge, arriving for the members only entrance time of 8.15am. Nice views of Black-tailed Godwits on the Rushy together with LRP, Ruff and Green Sandpiper, and atmospheric reflections on a calm morning. A large mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover from the Zeiss hide (high tide) and more Ruff, Godwits and Dunlin on South Lake. A few early Snipe arrivals too.

Odds and Ends

21 Aug - A few weekend odds and ends - a superb brief, but close, view of a Hobby as it flew over the garden Saturday morning - 3 late Swifts over Ciren Sat eve - a flock of 7 Buzzards over Winstone - and a Redstart at Blakehill that was out in the open for once. An autumnal feel with some rain and cool temperatures.

CWP (E)

18 Aug - A morning visit to pit 132 in the eastern CWP - a flighty Greenshank still around, also a couple of Common Sandpipers. flyover Hobby was a bonus.

Pelagic

11 Aug - I decided to go on the Isles of Scilly pelagic boat trip that I'd pencilled in, as it's been a very good seabird season in the SW especially with all the unsettled weather. So a drive and a crossing on the Scillonian set me up for an evening trip out with Joe Pender and a return home the next day (after b and b for 1 night). The weather was cloudy with a SW breeze, good conditions, and the crossing from Penzance was eventful with very large numbers of Manx Shearwaters - also 5 Cory's and a Sooty Shearwater, with a few Storm Petrels also seen. The trip on the Sapphire was very bouncy on a sea with a considerable swell, but almost immediately we came upon a mixed flock of Shearwaters including both Great and Cory's - unfortunately photography was a challenge with the poor light, a bit of drizzle, and the swell affecting balance on the boat - but good views were had especially of the majestic Cory's gliding around, and of the slightly more delicate Greats "shearing" in the wind. We also put out some fish oil to attract Storm Petrels, and as well as the fluttering Stormies we saw 2 Wilson's Petrels - distinctive with their larger and squarer size, stronger secondary bars and projecting feet. The trip is also excellent for views of Gannets and Fulmars, and these accompanied us back to harbour as the evening closed in. Terrible traffic on the Saturday trying to get back from Cornwall - 6 hours! but worth it.........

Wood Sandpipers

10 Aug - 3 juveniles of this very elegant species have been at Slimbridge WWT for the last few days, probably stalled on their southbound migration by the wet weather. They've been feeding with Green and Common Sandpipers for a fieldguide-type comparison - compared with these two species the Woods are very slim and elegant, longer-legged, and are always sought after as a regular but fairly scarce passage migrant. The Wood Sands were fairly cooperative for the camera from the Robbie Garnett hide, and as usual South Lake was giving good views of Black-tailed Godwits (and also Ruff) though the bright light can be a problem here for photography.

South of the county

6 Aug - A stop en route home, and as well as a couple of family groups of Whinchats I was scanning around when a raptor flying low in the valley caught my attention - a male Montagu's Harrier! It flew through and continued south, a real bonus. I even managed a record shot.......

WWT again

29 July - Another look at WWT to try to photograph the Greenshank - alas it remained fairly distant but I obtained a few record shots - one of my favourite waders. Also further good views of Black-tailed Godwits on Rushy Pen. The Swifts were screaming around the village noisily this evening in the rain - they will be leaving us soon for their incedible flight to Africa where they stay airborne for months on end.