CWP waders........

30 Aug - A couple of looks at Eysey this week, John Durell found a Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover on the wet field here on 27 Aug, and they were all still present on the morning of 30th.

Slimbridge foray

29 Aug - An early morning visit to Slimbridge in the hope of seeing a few passage waders close to the hides - fairly quiet generally for migrants with the fine nights, but Green Sandpiper, Snipe and Blackwit seen on the Rushy along with an obliging Grey Wagtail, and a good count of 6 Greenshanks in the high tide roost from Zeiss Hide, along with Ruff and Avocet, amongst the Blackwit flock.

Blakehill

26 Aug - A morning visit on a fine day with little wind. The female Redstart still present but keeping in cover, also an obliging Wheatear along the fence line. Otherwise fairly quiet, but Whitethroats feeding actively in the hedges. Raptors included a Buzzard and 2 Kestrels.

Garden Hobby

24 Aug - At last, alerted by the alarm calls of Swallows, I very belatedly saw my first flyover garden Hobby of the year....

Kingfisher pond..........

23 Aug - An early morning trip to Farmoor and Shrike Meadow Hide, where Kingfishers have been reliable recently on the pool in front of the hide near the River Thames, presumably juvenile birds learning to fish, courtesy of a conveniently-placed post. After an hour or so’s wait, a bird flew in and perched initially on the reed stems, then flew to the post which is nicely positioned for the camera and the early morning light. Lovely close views of the bird as it perched, caught prey and proceeded to swallow it in full view. Also seen, 3 late Swifts and a Little Egret.

WWT fix .........

17 Aug - An early morning visit to Slimbridge, always some migrant waders to see this time of the year, and although fairly quiet, a Snipe and Green Sandpiper were fairly photogenic on the Rushy where a Hobby also flew through. The high tide roost from Zeiss hide held 3 Greenshanks, a Knot and a Sanderling amongst the more usual Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank and Ruff, with a few Avocets also scattered amongst the flock.

Fishing Ospreys .......

13 Aug - An evening visit to Horn Mill Trout Farm and the Osprey hide. Osprey 28 was around most of the afternoon - a 9-yr old male - and we saw 3 dives (2 successful) and an aborted dive. High adrenaline photography as it’s a bit all-or-nothing when the bird dives - miss the photo and you’ve no second chance. Always exciting to see the bird splash deep into the water at close range. Also a couple of juvenile Grey Herons disputing dominance at the water’s edge, and a flyby Kingfisher, as well as good numbers of Swallows and House Martins.

Blakehill

11 Aug - My first walk at Blakehill for a while, in a strong westerly breeze, and a bit of an autumnal feel. Several parties of Swallows feeding low over the plateau totalling at least 50 birds, and a Hobby perched briefly and distantly on a post was mobbed before it flew off with typical rakish profile. Also 2 fairly skittish Wheatears feeding along the fence posts, and a vocal female Redstart. Small birds generally keeping low and being elusive in the wind.

CWP Waders

9 Aug - A weather front moving through dropped a nice selection of waders at pit 200, including Greenshank and Ruff, as well as 3 Dunlin, Green and Common Sandpipers. So far CWP has missed out on the good number of Wood Sandpipers scattered across the country ..........

Better late than never ..........

8 Aug - Having missed the Little Bustard at Slimbridge, I was very satisfied to finally catch up with it further north at Mickletown, where it has taken up residence in the fields. Almost certainly the same individual, considering it is such a rare visitor ....... good views of the bird feeding in the early morning sun, and at one stage seen in flight, when it had a narrow escape from a female Peregrine. A smart bird being a male, and giving much better views, in the short grass field, than it did at WWT! A pair of Curlew feeding with it gave an interesting size comparison.

Wessex.......

2 Aug - A butterfly trip south for probably my favourite UK species, Brown Hairstreak, then a detour on the way home and views of a soaring Montagu’s Harrier at a known site, also Red Kite and Buzzard.

Honey Buzzard........

1 Aug - A sunny forecast, albeit with light winds, and a visit to Acres Down. I enjoy scanning here, with several raptors possible, and as usual Common Buzzards were the first to appear as the cloud burnt off. After 90 mins or so, I was scanning when I saw a large raptor being mobbed by a Sparrowhawk..... a male Honey Buzzard! Excellent views of the pale underparts, dark carpal patch, and the flat profile with elastic wingbeats. Superb ‘scope views of one of my favourite raptors. Also there - flyover Hawfinch and Crossbill, also Little Egret and Grey Heron.....also Redstart singing.