You can e-mail your records to me at GlosterBirder@gmail.com please also copy the County Recorder, Richard Baatsen at glos.bird.recorder@gmail.com. You can also use the form in the Contact menu.

In the absence of updates you can follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GlosterBirder or tweet your sightings on Twitter with #GlosBirds. Thank you

Please send your Dragonfly and Damselfly records with grid ref to Richard Mundy at mailto:glos.dragonflies@gmail.com

A Brief History of The Gloster Birder 2023

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Saturday 27th December 2025

WWT Slimbridge     Four TUNDRA BEAN GEESE showing well on the Tack Piece from 11:45am. (Dot Jones). The drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL showing well on South Lake this morning. (Slimbridge Sightings). Also today a Red Kite, a female Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, 11 Common Cranes, a Little Stint, 12 Ruff and 42 Avocets. (Mark Dowie/Paul Masters/Oliver Paisey).

Tundra Bean Geese by Mike King

Tundra Bean Goose by Mike King

Green-winged Teal by Mike King

Cotswold Water Park East     At Kempsford Sewage works c10 Chiffchaffs including a bird which looked good for Siberian Chiffchaff. At the far end of Pit 132 where the river had flooded the field, 47 Cattle Egrets, three Great White Egrets and the Scarlet Ibis again. At Pit 114 c75 Pintails and on the flooded field next to Pit 114, two Green Sandpipers. (Duncan Dine).

Common Chiffchaff by Duncan Dine

Shab Hill     This morning c400 Golden Plovers. (Duncan Dine).

Chavenage Lane     Seven Red Kites, six Buzzards, a flock of 34 Corn Buntings and a covey of 19 Grey Partridges today. (Terry Grant).

Wotton-Under-Edge     c6-12 Crossbills between 12:30-2pm at Westridge Woods a short distance into the woods approached from Conygres Campsite. Also six Coal Tits, three Nuthatches, two Bullfinches, a Goldcrest, a Buzzard, a Yellowhammer and c6 Siskins. (Patrick Wiper).

Upper End/Eastington (nr Northleach)     Today along the River Leach 20 Moorhens, two Little Egrets, a Red Kite, a Starling, a Grey Wagtail, 15 Mallards and four Teal. (Joe Hilliard).

Tuffley     At 7:15am c100 Jackdaws heading E and two Ravens following loosely. (Ian Elphick).

Longney     Around the old orchards this afternoon 35 Fieldfares, five Redwings, 25 Starlings and six Chaffinches. (John Fletcher).

Stonehouse    In the Ocean area this morning a female Blackcap, four Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, four Chiffchaff, seven Cormorants, a Mistle Thrush, three Song Thrushes, a few Blackbirds, a few small mixed tit flocks and a pair of Jays. (Paul Sutton).

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Friday 26th December 2025

WWT Slimbridge    Three TUNDRA BEAN GEESE distantly on the Lower Dumbles this morning. Later at 12:20pm five from Kingfisher hide which flew NW over the river and were lost to view. Also 63 Bewick’s Swans on the Rushy, a Little Stint, a Sanderling, a Black Swan and a Stonechat. (Martin McGill/Oliver Paisey/Ian Ralphs). A Peregrine showed well hunting on the Dumbles, the Pink-footed Goose and the Ross’s Goose, of unknown origin, 60 White-fronted Geese and nine Common Cranes. (Paul Masters/Ian Ralphs/Oliver Paisey/MK/Mil Petkovic). Two Water Rails near Willow hide and a Snipe on the Tack Piece. (Steve Pullen).

Walmore Common     Two TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE and 14 White-fronted Geese mid morning. Nearby on Rodley flood 137 Shovelers, 57 Wigeon, 74 Teal, five Shelducks and two Snipe. (Dan Watson).

Cotswold Water Park West    The drake RING-NECKED DUCK again on Pit 31 Keynes Park this morning (first seen on the 23rd), with 40+ Pochards, eight Red Crested Pochards and 30+ Tufted Ducks. At Shorncote this morning a female Marsh Harrier, three Red Kites, two Buzzards, a male Peregrine hunting Teal, a Kestrel and a male Sparrowhawk. Also two Great White Egrets, 11 Little Egrets, six Water Rails, two Grey Wagtails, 15 Chiffchaffs and 80+ Redwings. (Jon Mercer).

Ring-necked Duck by Jon Mercer

Frampton pools     A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER again in the hedge on the the southern edge of the Sailing Lake. Around the pools seven Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, three Great White Egrets, 28 Teal, 80 Tufted Ducks, 13 Great Crested Grebes, 72 Shovelers, 51 Mallards, five Pochards, 37 Wigeon, 75 Gadwalls and three Stonechats. (Nick Goatman).

Saul Warth     Early morning no tide two Common Cranes flew out at dawn, three Avocets, 269 Curlews, 106 Lapwings, 65 Dunlins, nine Cormorants, two drake Pintails, 20 Fieldfares, seven Redwings and 30 Chaffinches. (MK).

Chavenage Lane     106 Lapwings, 200+ Golden Plovers, six Red Kites and five Buzzards today. (Terry Grant).

Tuffley     A Red Kite flew over low at 1pm. (Ian Elphick).

Maisemore     This afternoon 22 Lapwings, two Song Thrushes, seven Long-tailed Tits, two Stock Doves, 11 Moorhens, 21 Mallards, a Cormorant, two Mute Swans and four Roe Deer. (John Fletcher).

Rodborough Common     A female Blackcap in the garden again. (Mil Petkovic).

Blackcap by Mil Petkovic
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Thursday 25th December 2025

Frampton     A Great White Egret in the garden pond at 9am. (Nick Goatman).

Wotton-Under-Edge     Eight Crossbills in Westridge Wood at 11am. (Tim Thompson).

Rodborough Common     Garden birds today included a female Blackcap, a Goldcrest, a Nuthatch, six Greenfinches, two Redwings, two Blue Tits and 12 Long-tailed Tits. (Mil Petkovic).

Prestbury     A male Stonechat in the paddocks at bottom of Noverton Farm at 12:20pm. (Ken Heron).

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Wednesday 24th December 2025

Walmore Common     37+ White-fronted Geese this afternoon. (Dan Watson).

WWT Slimbridge     A Little Stint on the Tack Piece this morning. (Paul Masters). A juvenile Bewick’s Swan 314T and adult chaperone XCP landed on The Rushy at this morning. This was thought to be their first visit/arrival. (Roger Wasley).

Bewick’s Swan by Roger Wasley

Bewick’s Swan by Roger Wasley

Chavenage Lane area     79 Lapwings, 70+ Linnets, eight Corn Buntings, 90+ Skylarks, 12 Buzzards, 12+ Red Kites, a Goshawk and a Kestrel today. (Terry Grant).

Gloucester     At Horsebere Brook FSA two Mute Swans, two Coots, a Grey Heron, 50+ Snipe, two Jack Snipe and a Chiffchaff at midday. (Gord Avery).

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Tuesday 23rd December 2025 🎄

WWT Slimbridge    From the Estuary Tower a Dark-bellied Brent Goose on the Dumbles. 64 White-fronted Geese on the Tack Piece and a hunting Peregrine. 39 Bewick’s Swans on the Rushy. (Slimbridge Sightings). A Great White Egret from the Decoy hide this morning. (Heather England).

Saul Warth     Early morning high tide, 41 Shelducks, ten Wigeon, 108 Lapwings, 86 Curlews, a Common Sandpiper, 330 Dunlins, 28 Little Egrets, biggest count of the year, a Chiffchaff and 20 Fieldfares. (MK).

Kempley     A Marsh Tit in the garden this morning. (Stephen Watts).

Marsh Tit by Stephen Watts

Witcombe Reservoirs     250 Mallards, nine Tufted Ducks, a fly over Siskin and a Red Kite today. (Ian Ralphs).

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Monday 22nd December 2025

WWT Slimbridge     The drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL from Robbie Garnett hide at 8:30am. On the Rushy 35 Bewick’s Swans, eight Ruff and 63 Redshanks. (Martin McGill).

Sharpness     Two SHAGS still present on SARA pool this morning and later along the canal. (Oliver Paisey).

Saul Warth     Early morning at high tide a displaying male Goldeneye (2nd patch record), an Egyptian Goose flew E with three Canada Geese, 30 Shelducks, 85 Curlews, 50 Lapwings S, a Little Egret, four Chiffchaffs, a Cetti’s Warbler in Hock Ditch, 30 Fieldfares, seven Redwings, five Meadow Pipits and 20 Cattle Egrets opposite Dunstalls Farm. (MK).

Goldeneye by Mike King

Meadow Pipit by Mike King

Forest of Dean     A Peacock butterfly at Staple Edge today. (Emily & Mark Hobson).

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Sunday 21st December 2025

Tewkesbury     Belated news of a BLACK REDSTART captured on the Peregrine nest tray on Tewkesbury Abbey on the 19th at 12:37pm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crTvZ9stdvI (David Bagley).

Black Redstart videograb

Sharpness     Two SHAGS at SARA still present on the canal or in the marina until 2pm at least. (Ken Hurcombe/Andy Jordan/Mark Hobson/David Creber).

Shags by Mark Hobson

WWT Slimbridge     A FIRECREST at 11:20am flew across the path towards the Decoy area scrub to the left of the new gate by Martin Smith hide. (Tim McGrath).

Woodmancote    51 Goldfinches gathering in a pre roost tree near the garden at 3:50pm today. Also at least five Blackcaps (3 males & 2 females) using the feeders. (John Widgery).

Forest of Dean     A Goldcrest picked up exhausted at St Briavels today, after 2 hours recovery in a box, the bird was released. (Bob Broughton).

Goldcrest by Bob Broughton
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Saturday 20th December 2025

Sharpness     This morning the two SHAGS at SARA still present on the canal or in the marina. Also two Kingfishers, a male Marsh Harrier and 8+ Dunlins. (Oliver Paisey/Ian Ralphs/Paul Masters). 12 Snipe among the rocks and seaweed east of SARA. (Paul Masters).

WWT Slimbridge     The Dark-bellied Brent Goose and two Peregrines on the Dumbles. (Dot Jones). Two FIRECRESTS near the Decoy at 12:30pm, a female Goldeneye on South Lake, Lesser Redpolls seen and a Treecreeper near Martin Smith hide tunnel. (Oliver Paisey/Heather England). Two Reed Buntings in the bushes below Estuary Tower, two Egyptian Geese, 3+ Marsh Harriers (1 male) and a Great White Egret from Zeiss hide on Top New Piece. (Paul Clark).

Walmore Common     A female/immature MERLIN today and the Tundra Bean Goose of unknown origin still present. (Andy Jayne).

Saul Warth     Early morning at high tide 31 Shelducks, nine Wigeon, seven Teal, five Curlews, 20 Golden Plovers flew E, a singing Song Thrush, 25 Fieldfares, nine Meadow Pipits, a Reed Bunting and 1000+ Starlings flew over the Warth at dawn from a roost at Frampton. (MK).

Frampton pools     Around the pools a male Goosander, a male Goldeneye, nine Cattle Egrets, 32 Little Egrets, two Great White Egrets, 54 Cormorants, nine Shovelers, 40 Gadwalls, seven Teal, three Little Grebes, five Stonechats, seven Chiffchaffs, eight Blackcaps, two Nuthatches. 16 Redwings, nine Fieldfares, eight Siskins and 12 Goldcrests. (Nick Goatman).

Winchcombe     On Salter’s Hill birds included a Bullfinch, three Nuthatches, a Goldcrest, four Marsh Tits, four Goldfinches, three Chaffinches, a Song Thrush, a Red Kite, two Ravens and many Redwings. (Danny Sturgeon).

Stonehouse     Up to four male Kingfishers and a female this morning (and yesterday) from Ebley Mill to Ryeford. Also along the canal 5+ Cormorants, a Buzzard, a Water Rail, Goldcrests, a pair of Jays, 10+ Magpies, two Redwings and five Song Thrushes. (Paul Sutton).

Water Rail by Paul Sutton
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Friday 19th December 2025

WWT Slimbridge     A drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL on South Lake from Discovery Hide at 3pm before being flushed. (Ella Slinn). Also on South Lake two Cattle Egrets and 12 Avocets. Two Firecrests still along the Estuary Tower walkway today. 25 Bewick’s Swans, a Little Stint, 500+ Dunlins, 341 Black-tailed Godwits, 66 Redshanks and 26 Ruff. (Dot Jones/Tim Jukes).

Green-winged Teal by Ella Slinn

Sharpness     Two SHAGS today at SARA on the canal, the marina and in the surrounding area. (Oliver Paisey).

Shag by Mark Dowie

Shepherds Patch, Slimbridge     A minimum of 33 Cattle Egrets and six Little Egrets opposite the car park at at 12:50pm, but all gone by 3pm. (Craig Brookes).

Saul Warth     Early morning at high tide 18 Shelducks, 25 Wigeon, 55 Curlews, a Common Sandpiper, nine Cormorants, six Grey Herons, a Marsh Harrier, four Buzzards, a Kestrel, a Chiffchaff, a male Blackcap, a singing Song Thrush, a Fieldfare, eight Meadow Pipits and a Reed Bunting. (MK).

Common Sandpiper by Mike King

Forest of Dean     At Woorgreens NR this morning six Goosander (2 males), a Grey Heron, two Ravens, a Buzzard, six Fieldfares, four Linnets and 50+ Siskins. (Paul Clark).

Bagpath     At least 1 Brambling with a mixed finch flock this morning. (Paul Rich).

Ashleworth Ham     150 Mallards, 150 Teal, 100 Wigeon, 50 Greylags, 20 Canada Geese, 12 Pintails, eight Shovelers, 250+ Fieldfares, 50+ Redwings, 100+ Linnets, 150+ Chaffinches and a Red Kite. (Shaun Curtis).

Winchcombe     A leucistic Magpie feeding in the garden again today. (John Kime).

Leucistic Magpie by John Kime
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Thursday 18th December 2025

WWT Slimbridge     The Dark-bellied Brent Goose on the Dumbles and the Pink-footed Goose, of unknown origin, with the feral goose flock. A Little Stint from Estuary Tower. 26 Bewick’s Swans at the early swan feed at the Rushy and a Tawny Owl flew over. (Ian Ralphs/Slimbridge Sightings).

Saul Warth     Early morning on a falling tide, 24 Shelducks, 40 Wigeon, 42 Curlews, two Little Egrets, a Kestrel, two Buzzards, nine Fieldfares, a singing Song Thrush, a Mistle Thrush, 26 Chaffinches and a Reed Bunting. Also four Roe Deer. (MK).

Frampton pools     This afternoon south of the sailing lake three Chiffchaffs, three Goldcrests, three Snipe and six Meadow Pipits. (Nick Goatman).

Cheltenham     A woodpecker drumming in the woods (almost certainly Great Spotted), south of Highland Road in Charlton Kings. (Tony Duffin).

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