Gloucestershire sightings 10 February 2006

10 February 2006 A recycling trip at Hempsted turned into a gull search and I walked the SevernWay footpath along the R. Severn to view the loafing gulls on the opposite side of the river. Nothing of any note to report. I made the most of a very fine, still and sunny day and had a look for passerines. I visited a patch of setaside in Berkeley where a flock of 80 Linnet, 10+ Tree Sparrow, female Brambling and a number of commoner passerines could be found. I looked at a favoured spot in Sharpness and located two female/immature Black Redstart. It was fantastic viewing with the audible bill snap and flight feathers clicking on bricks when grabbing insects. Although they are sombre plumaged birds they are somewhat transformed when feeding as the red tail becomes very apparent as they sally and tumble down drainpipes and tiles. See the photos page for latest images of the Black Redstarts (you may have to use the direction buttons beneath the gallery tile to locate them). MJMcGill.