i point and snap by basically reaction and happen to catch the bird in bottom corner

Sunday 11th August am. Spotted Flycatcher 2 Redstart Mistle Thrush a flock of 20 Willow Warbler singing Blackcap female Chiffchaff . Dragonflies: Emperor 1 Southern Hawker 3 Common Darter 6 pair ovipositing Azure Blue 10. Butterflies Red Admiral 1 Green Veined White 6 Large White 1 Gate Keeper 6 Common Blue 4

Rather humid outing to the R.Ely floodplain near Peterston-super-Ely this morning, with 18 participants. We scored with the target birds – 6, possibly 8 Green Sandpipers, a new bird for some. They did their usual thing of exploding from their hiding places along the river edge, uttering their characteristic “weet-a-weet-a-weet” call. 26 species were logged on what was a fairly quiet morming bird-wise. The full list [subject to updates] is linked below. A non-avian highlight was the Dark Bush-cricket which is pictured below. The other non-avian shown is one of the common Hoverflies, Eristalis pertinax. A notgable find by Charlotte on the walk back, was a Roesel’s Bush-cricket – apparently a new record for the site – nice one!. John Wilson

PS an image of the Roesel’s is added to the gallery. Cropped phone pic taken by Charlotte.

Here’s the current list: click here

Cosmeston a.m. A Little Egret was resting by the W lake ‘island’ – it was very distant so the pix are rubbish. But pale bill and dull legs seem to point to 1st yr bird. Very vocal large GCG juv was pestering it’s parent. Also a very vocal Green Woodpecker was in the conservation area but I couldn’t see it. There were about 20 Sand Martins over W lake – the first hirundines I’ve seen in the park for about a week. The LBBG was an evil looking brute!

There were c.30 Canada Geese by E lake shore today, presumably having arrived early this morning as they weren’t there yesterday. A Kingfisher flew under the main bridge and disappeared into the trees along the edge of the W lake reed bed. A pair of GC Grebes were with 3 small humbugs there – see photo. Also of note – good numbers of Gatekeepers and a few Common Blues

Suspected fem marsh harrier seen over farmland just west of Gileston today about 1230. Large brown bird,long straight tail, wings too thin to be buzzard. Low ish flight over ground, maybe 10-20ft up foraging. Definitely not red kite, and no white rump visible (not hen harrier).

Six people assembled at Kenfig NNR , including the leader for the day John Western, for the monthly GBC bird walk on Saturday 20th July.

Undoubtedly,  the dismal weather forecast had put potential participants off, together with the start of the peak holiday season , following schools breaking up the previous day.

Thankfully, the rain kept away until late morning by which time those taking part were heading for the car park and home.

This good fortune meant that the group headed for the bird hide, but not before completing a circular walk around the woodland adjacent to the hide. The path used for this walk had, until recently, been flooded and impassable. The flood water had since receded and all was well.

July has the reputation of being a quiet month from a birding point of view, and so it proved. Small birds, including the usual suspects such as Robin, Dunnock and Great Tit were conspicuous by their absence, both visually and vocally.

Nevertheless, the group soldiered on and eventually managed to report the grand total of 18 species.

A single Raven flew over, a Great Black Backed Gull was resting on the old boathouse, a calling Water Rail was heard and it was gratifying to see the Great Crested Grebe family in full view and good shape on the far side of the pool. 

It is hoped that the August walk will be more productive, but none the less it was an enjoyable experience. 

Full list of species recorded is as follows:- Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Swallow, Coot , Black – headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great black – backed Gull, Lesser black- backed Gull, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Greylag Goose, Great Crested Grebe and Water Rail.”

Many thanks to John Western for this report and for leading the walk.

We had a successful trip to Goldcliff Newport Wetlands today, with 10 participants. There was some work going on but we still logged 50 species. Highlights were Little, Great and Cattle Egrets [singles of the last two with the Cattle Egret being in full breeding plumage]. Waders comprised a nice flock of c.80 Dunlin plus Ringed Plover & Lapwing, and 2 Green Sandpipers. Amongst the duck [all in eclipse plumage now] were a couple of Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal and a Pintail. A female Marsh Harrier flew a couple of times and was then found on the ground plucking a prey item, but we couldn’t figure out what it was, apart from the fact that the pluckings were feathers! John Wilson.
Click here for the full list.
Couple of heavily cropped shots below of the Cattle Egret when it flew off.

The highlight for us was seeing Small-Red-eyed Damselflies some pairs ovipositing along with Azure Blue Damselfly and Emperor Dragonfly. The where a large number of newly emerged Damselflies not identified. Great Crested Grebe 16 Common Sandpiper 1

Thirteen of us enjoyed our ‘Walk for Women’ here this morning. Great company, friends old and new, the weather was glorious, and we found 32 species between us, seen and heard. The highlights were – Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the same tree, a distant Common Sandpiper, low flying Swift over the lake 30+ Coot and at least 8 Little Grebe.

Full list-

Mute Swan, Grey Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Mallard, Canada Geese, Black Headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff, Magpie, Tufted Duck, Blackcap, Common Buzzard, House Sparrow, Wren, Robin, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull,Blackbird, Nuthatch, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Common Sandpiper,Blue Tit, Little Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker.

Thanks for coming everyone!

World First

Two headed Egret found at Catcott Hide

I was doing what i do sitting and watching – a family of Moorhen on pond of water at slimbridge, then

I must admit, it tanged my heart string

Can you name this dragonfly ?

I hope this proves i do take pic’s of dragonfly, once and all – cheers Martin

At Wykeham Forest pair of Woodcock’s just before dark

Redstart 3 Spotted Flycatcher 1 also Common Newt Beautiful Demoiselle lots of Common Spotted Orchids and some Marsh Orchids.

In 2016, a group of GBC members spent a week on the Uist islands, on a trip organised by Alan Rosney.

Janet and I liked it so much that we have wanted to return ever since…. and today we landed back on South Uist.

Within 300m of getting off the ferry in Lochboisdale, South Uist today, we stopped at a roadside pool. Heron, Oystercatcher, Greylag… Nice enough.

Then a SEO rose from the ground of a nearby garden and flew right at us, too close for bins!

15 minutes later, we stopped again. While I was watching a Redshank on a post, Janet looked round to see a White-tailed Sea Eagle flying low about 100m away. Good start? I think so.

Yes – i cheated, firstly the 6 Pic’s was caught as the nightjar shot down and across i masked then together to show the flight – night was cold and full of midges and worth every moment as i saw 3 and heard many more

At Goldcliff on a grey cloudily day the Ruff added colour

Not bird related,but in a walk around the lake i found Bee Orchids in two locations.