Cleeve and WWT

31 Mar - A cloudy start then sun again. Cleeve Hill didn't produce the Ring Ouzels seen the day before, but a bonus was 4 Short-eared Owls, presumably on passage, that I nearly trod on - good views, but no decent photos as I couldn't locate them again on the ground. Yellowhammers, Linnets and Meadow Pipits all seen. I'll try again later in the month as it's a reliable spring stopover site for the Ouzels. I decided to call at Slimbridge on the way home and I'm glad I did, as not only was the Spoonbill still there, and giving very good views from Robbie Garnett hide, but I also found an immature Little Gull feeding over the South Lake, very elegant with its tern-like flight and small size. It's amazing to think that I hardly gave the 40 or so Avocets on the South Lake a second glance, whereas 5 years ago Avocet was a scarce passage migrant in Glos.

Greenham etc

30 Mar - A sunny morning once the clouds dispersed. A brief early look at Blakehill finally produced a male Wheatear which disappeared again before I could get anything other than a record shot, unlike the confiding and numerous Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. A perfect time of year for the short trip to Greenham Common, now a heathland, and the easiest place I know to see Woodlarks - 2 seen very well feeding at close range and quite confiding, also at least 5 Dartford Warblers seen, including a male which was singing in the open and affording good views. Also logged - Meadow Pipits and Linnets, a flock of 19 Golden Plover which were circling on and off for an hour, and 3 Red Kites (plus another 10 on the journey via Hungerford). Also 2 LRPs and 2 Curlews at pit 132 at CWP E, and a flyover Swallow near home. A productive morning, with spring well and truly under way in the current southerly winds.

One Swallow doesn't make a summer............

28 Mar - Not one Swallow, but four, at Coate Water this evening with c 50 Sand Martins, feeding in blustery conditions high over the lake. Worth a quick look on the way home.

CWP wander

25 Mar - My first chance to get out all week after a very busy schedule. Shorncote was not especially productive in the strong east wind, no LRPs seen, highlights being a Green Sandpiper and 2 Grey Wagtails apart from the usual singing Cetti's and good numbers of Buzzards, none of which became an Osprey on closer inspection. I then drove to pit 132 in the eastern CWP - the habitat here is ideal for LRPs with gravel islands and spits,

and 2 Little Ringed Plovers flew in just as I was about to leave having scanned several times - the male immediately calling and displaying. Also here an obliging perched Peregrine, a few Lapwings, a Snipe, a pair of Goosander and 2 Little Egrets as well as a couple of obliging Red Kites. All in all, a successful morning.

Odds and Ends

19 Mar - A Peregrine flew N over Cirencester Abbey Grounds this afternoon, and 5 Sand Martins over pit 65 this evening. Cool and blustery today.

Garganey on cue

18 Mar - A quick trip and views of the fairly elusive Garganeys on the South lake - also close looks at Curlew and Redshank and Grey Heron,

together with Avocet and Black-tailed Godwits. A flight view of a Kingfisher, but smaller birds generally elusive in the strong breeze. Still waiting for my first Wheatear and Sand Martin of the year......

Savernake and south......

16 Mar - A weather forecast of a fine sunny start, deteriorating for the afternoon. I arrived soon after sunrise at Savernake, and a good selection of woodland birds in the early morning stillness of the woodland - several Roe deer and a Muntjac testimony to the lack of disturbance. The main target, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, was heard drumming distantly but not seen - however 8 Great Spotteds heard/seen, together with 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Treecreepers, c15 Nuthatches, 2 Marsh Tits, 4 Jays, and a Raven.

A quick stop at Southsea Castle was successful in locating 7 roosting Purple Sandpipers on the rocks straight away, on of my favourite waders - I then progressed to the oyster beds at Hayling, where the Oyster beds hold the spectacle each spring of a pre-breeding gathering of Mediterranean Gulls - no less than 440 seen here last week! The sun was gradually filtered out by high cloud, a the breeze picked up, good conditions for the noisy gathering of Med Gulls in stunning breeding plumage mixed with the more numerous Black-headed Gulls.

A cacophany of displaying and squabbling birds, on the shingle and in the air. Plenty of photographic opportunities. Also a few waders seen - Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank and Godwits. Home lunchtime before the strong winds arrived.