Waders and migrants

26 April - a good variety of waders seen in the CWP this morning - Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper and Redshank, pits 79, 82/3 and 95. Also a male Wheatear at 79 was new for the year. Many warblers now in full song including good numbers of Garden Warblers and Reed Warblers. 4 raptors seen including Hobby.
Later, at Blakehill Farm, a Yellow Wagtail flew over calling, my first of the year.

Swifts and Terns arrive

23 April - Cloudy/light showers today, 30+ Swifts feeding over CWP pit 16 this evening along with mixed hirundines. Also an Arctic Tern with 8+ Common Terns.

Gropper at Cleeve Hill

22 April - After a short search, a reeling Grasshopper Warbler E of the car park at the West Down section of Cleeve Hill. A first for Glos for me. Also Cuckoo, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.

Duke of Burgundy

21 April - In the afternoon, a visit to Noar Hill reserve in Hampshire where Duke of Burgundy butterflies have emerged early this year due to the warm weather - 3 seen in total including an obliging territorial male in one of the chalk pits. Also a Dingy Skipper seen here, with good numbers of Brimstones and Orange-Tips. Later, at Magdalen Hill Down, a Grizzled Skipper and an early Brown Argus seen.

Glos rarities!

21 April - An amazing morning's birding in Glos. First thing, to Frampton again to join the crowds viewing 100 Acre - after half an hour, 13 of the 17(!) Glossy Ibis present flew round and dropped into the reeds. They had arrived the previous evening. 6 Little Egrets added to the exotic feel of things. Then, my journey in search of butterflies was interrupted by a call to divert me to Cleeve Hill - after a hike towards the washpool, the Stone Curlew was seen settled under a tussock, another very rare Glos species. Two new species for the county within a couple of hours.

The first Hobby of the year flew over CWP pits 82/83 in the evening.

Frampton migrants

19 April - a visit to Frampton-on-Severn, quite a few more summer migrants now in, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler all firsts for the year and Cuckoo new for the year as well - seen, not heard. A Whimbrel flew over calling and a Common Sandpiper flew up the canal. The Spoonbill present for the last couple of days had unfortunately decided to visit elsewhere this morning. Breeding waders settling in on the flashes - Redshank and Lapwing.

En route home I heard a singing Redstart at Ashleworth Ham, and my first Reed Warbler of the year at CWP pit 6 ( along with Cetti's and Sedge Warblers).

Nightingales!

15 April - warm and sunny again, a quick morning visit to Swillbrook produced the first singing Nightingale of the year, also Sedge and Willow Warblers have arrived in good numbers. No Cuckoo yet.