Ouch 6 weeks since I posted!

life has been a case of burning the candle at both ends, with birding squeezed in let alone blogging.

Highlights and lowlights of the last couple of weeks;

The Crossbills at Boys Grave in the Forest of Dean on 10th October are becoming a regular inclusion on my month list, all the better because of not having had them on any list till this year!

On the 24th Nats and I headed to Surrey for the Brown Shrike, on about the only day it hasn't shown (a return trip is a must!) however, with a posing Green Wodpecker, Ring necked parakeets, our first fieldfare of the winter and some showy stonechats, the trip was hardly a let down.

A solo trip to Meare Heath on 29th brought great views of the Great White Egret, looking even better in the reeds and bushes from the Noahs Arc Hide than in the open water at Chard. A Marsh Harrier also managed a few fly past performances.

Miss of the month though had to be the glossy ibis on 100 acre slimbridge having been there the night before :o(

Possibly one of the nicest birding days of the year came this Sunday though as any sensible birder stayed wrapped up in bed. Nats, Cam and I venturerd to Slimbrige. For the first half an hour we saw sheet rain and shaking bushes! As the weather eased we were treated to the first Bewicks of the year that had arrived overnight, 13 Whitefronted Geese and the start of the winter build up of wildfowl. It almost made it acceptable that it doesnt get light till 7 anymore!

Long-billed Dowitcher at Chew

Cam and I headed down to Chew this morning looking for the Long-billed Dowitcher, the first since 1977.

Waiting at Herons Green for the permit shop to open, we were treated to a Little Egret and Barn Owl over the pool. In the bay Green and Common Sandpipers, a huge increase in Pochard and Gadwall.

Finally, we got our permit and off to Stratford hide where we found 9 Snipe, and got distant views of preoccupied birders on Heriots bridge....5 mins later we were at Heriots bridge looking at a Long-billed Dowitcher (Life list) and 3 more Snipe.

Then back to Herons Green where we added a Rudddy Duck.

About 30 minutes after we left - four Glossy Ibis flew in *sigh*

To make up for that I dropped down to Aust Wharf tonight where I saw another first - Swallows and a Short Eared Owl in the same airspace ...briefly, before a middle aged man walked out onto the Wharf and walked right up to where the Owl had dropped. He was so close he had to have seen the owl.
At first I thought he was trying to get a killer photo - no he flew a model/toy aircraft! - Numpty!!

High tide at Slimbridge

I only had time for a quick visit, so aimed to be on the river for the high tide at 10:00.

When I arrived at Mid point, the viewing area was flooded, so no good views along the river. However, two Wheatears and 3 Whinchat on the fence made the walk worthwhile, along with a steady stream of Curlew flying in from up river.

The two obligatory Green Sandpipers were in front of the Robbie Garnett Hide.

Then along to the Zeiss hide - where everything had flown in to hide from the tide! 2 Snipe, 2 Little Stint (year list), 18 Dunlin, 7 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank and a Cetti's Warbler calling from the reed bed. Teal numbers were well over 100 too.

Morning at Marshfield

A warm and still morning, where it just seemed to struggle to get lightPheasants and Red-legged Partridges are everywhere now that the fields have been harvested and their cover is blown.
A stroll along Rushmead Lane pulled Corn Buntings, Meadow Pipits and Sky Larks from every field.

I still can't find a little owl in the remains of the two burnt out barns, but am assured one is still around. My blood still boils every time I see the barns, supposedly set alight in the name of animal rights!! Big breath...

Several Raven fell through the air, with Buzzards being hassled by every other corid in the area!

Finally a pair of Mistle Thrush sat quietly on a wire watching the chaos all around.

Cattle Egret on 100 Acre

I ended up driving to work today, so took full advantage and stopped off at Frampton on Severn on the way home.

From the viewing platform on Green Lane, after 6 weeks, I finally caught up with the Cattle Erget on 100 acre - taking my Gloster list to 150 :o)

A Cetti's Warbler was also calling from the bushes and two Little Egrets polished off the walk.

Barn Owl at Chew Valley

I headed down to Chew Valley in the hope of a distant view of the Glossy Ibis and I tried from every angle but no sign today.

However, a close range Kingfisher, shed load of returning Pochard and views of a quartering Barn Owl at 9:15 go a long way in making up for it :o)

Back to Slimbridge

No sign of the Marsh Warbler, despite having been given access to the Rushy Pen area behind the favored hedge, but that didn't stop the day being one off those days where everything falls into place ;o)

On the Rushy Pen a Green Sandpiper and about 30 Black-tailed Godwit. From the Holden Tower, a Peregrine on the river edge and another Green Sandpiper (so yet another picture of one)
Along to South lake which was alive, literally hundreds of Lapwing, with a pair of Spotted Redshank and 4 Ruff amongst them. Also Shoveler, Teal and more Black-tailed Godwit.

Then out on the Landrover Safari which started very quietly, but suddenly picked up when a Marsh Harrier flew across 100 acre (a Gloster first form me). A Raven was along the track.

Then we found, a little treasure trove at the small pool at the north end of the reserve; 5 Little Egret, a Snipe, yet another Green Sandpiper and 4 Greenshank. With a Grass Snake thrown in for good measure.