Sightings and diary from 21 September to 3 October 2007

Meadow Pipit at WWT Slimbridge image by M.J.McGill

21-26 September 2007 The highlights during this period for me was seeing a juvenile Marsh Harrier on the Tack Piece on 23rd (so many sightings this autumn) and a female Hen Harrier over the Tack Piece (initially found by Phil Shepherd) on 26th.





26-30 September 2007 A busy period with an Anser/English Holiday Cruises four night break which was based in Gloucestershire for a change. This trip also involved WWT Slimbridge.



27 September 2007 A visit to the Forest of Dean for the morning and early afternoon was followed by a visit to GWT Coombe Hill Canal and meadows. Despite the cold Northerly wind we still managed some highlights in the Forest, quite a few Siskin were around, a single Lesser Redpoll, juvenile Dipper, 6 Redwing, displaying Mandarins and a fly past Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at New Fancy View. At Coombe Hill a late Common Sandpiper and single Snipe were notable birds but the low flying helicopter that circled the site did not help matters.



28 September 2007 A relaxed cruise from Gloucester to the Patch at Slimbridge where we moored up for the night. During our cruise we noted a number of commoner birds but also Peregrine, 4 Green Sandpiper, a couple of Kingfishers, a very close male Kestrel and juvenile Grey Heron, 1 Teal and flocks of 40, 3 and 2 Redwing. The stretch from Frampton on Severn to WWT produced views from the deck of first-winter Arctic Tern, 5 Little Egret, lots of Swallows and House Martins, Curlews and a calling Cetti's Warbler.



A quick pre-lunch session at WWT was productive for most of the duck species, Little and Great Crested Grebe and 6 Spotted and 5 Common Redshank. The afternoon was spent on safari at WWT with Dave Paynter where a variety of wildlife was seen.



29 September 2007 Another morning visit to WWT to see what was a probable White-rumped Sandpiper was succesful but the bird turned out to be a Temminck's Stint. Also on the floooded Dumbles were 2 Little Stint, 80 Dunlin, two 1st winter Arctic Terns, 1 Ringed Plover, 100+ Wigeon, 100+ Shelduck, 2 Peregrine and 7 Little Egrets. The scrapes held 1 Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing, 10 Dunlin and Spotted and Common Redshanks. Back onboard to cruise to Sharpness and back up to Frampton where a very confiding Kingfisher sat for us on a barge tiller as we cruised past. A Southern and Brown Hawker were on the wing at Sharpness Marina, these are late records. Three Redwing flew over and we noted 14 Redshank and 35 Wigeon at Sharpness and Cetti's Warbler at Splatt Bridge.



30 September 2007 Neil Smart escorted the group to Cleeve Hill where the highlight for them was a Woodlark.
I was back at WWT Slimbridge where the waders were similar in number but no sign of any of the scarcer ones. The morning rounds and afternoon safari were great with Yellow Wagtail and 2 Siskin over, 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, Garganey, 1180 Teal, Hobby, 1st-winter Arctic Tern, 1 Knot, 3 Little Stint, 1 Grey Plover, 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, pair of Stonechat, 2 Wheatear and 30+ Migrant Hawker in the 100 Acre. A Pink-footed Goose was with the Greylag flock.



1 October 2007 A wet, grey day but I still saw a Southern Hawker! at WWT.



2 October 2007 A Wheatear was at Middle Point, 28 Grey Plover, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Sanderling, 140 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Stint, 1 Spotted Redshank and Arctic Tern were all on the river at 1630. A flock of 5 Common Scoter were seen over the tide.



3 October 2007 At WWT Slimbridge a misty, grey and foggy morning turned into a warm sunny afternoon. The Greylag flock which numbered 344 had a Pink-footed Goose with them on the Dumbles. On the estuary over high tide a Phalarope which was likely to be Grey (the observers think it was this species), whilst unsucessfully looking for this (but grateful for the tip off) I enjoyed a Brent Goose which headed downriver, 2 ,1st-winter Arctic Terns and 2 male Common Scoter. Only 5-8 Dunlin and a Ruff were present but 40 Golden Plover were also seen. Two Whinchat were seen at Middle Point. Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters were mating and on the wing at Middle Point and the Rushy. At least 5 Ruff and 3 Spotted Redshank were on the scrapes.