More Rain

Yes just for a change it"s raining, so Willow and I went out expecting to get a good soaking and in the event we were not dissapointed.As for the birds some still seem to be moving.Highlight was another superb WHINCHAT our 5th this spring , other migrants were CHIFFCHAFF, WILLOW WARBLER, 6 BLACKCAP, a very healthy 7 WHITETHROAT, GOLDCREST, calling CUCKOO, male YELLOWHAMMER, 10 LINNETS including a flock of 8 ( perhaps migrants). 8 SWIFT , 2 HOUSE MARTINS passed over, and 25 SWALLOW were through including a flock of 16 on barbed wire in a cloud burst. Bits and bobs were GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER, PIED WAGTAIL, 4 SKYLARK, 4 RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE, 3 STOCK DOVE.So all in all still not bad cosidering the weather.

Neglected Corner

As it says in the title I decided to look at the lower patch of my local area, it is an area that I should pay more attention to as there are some different species that the upper part does not get, although looking over the flood meadows that the area consists of it looked more like Febuary rather than May. The flood waters  are still high, so the hoped for Sedge Warblers were not found and the same for Lesser Whitethroat and our best summer guest Spotted Flycatchers likewise , although the latter has not yet arrived yet I think.
So as for the birds that I managed to see from a fairly restricted area , here goes. The first patch record of a flock of 7 TUFTED DUCK on the waters was nice. In the hedgerow by the flood were WHITETHROAT, CHIFFCHAFF, 3 BLACKCAP. 3 GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKERS flew over. There was a good number of SWALLOWS feeding over the floods and fields with 40 plus present and it is pleasing to report the first decent count of 20 plus HOUSE MARTINS ,there was a single SWIFT also. A calling CUCKOO is always nice. A single PIED WAGTAIL perched on a floating log .I must try to bring you more from the lower part of the patch as when it dries out it will be very productive.   

Slower

As it says above it was a little slower than the previous days , the northly wind having some affect, but at least it is dry and the flood waters seem to have gone down slightly. The hedgerows produced 6 WHITETHROAT, a massive 11 BLACKCAP, 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, male YELLOWHAMMER, a BULLFINCH WASheard .Overhead passage was slower but still 30 plus SWALLOW5SWIFT, 5 HOUSE MARTIN and 3 YELLOW WAGTAILS passed northwards.The odds and sods were 2 RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE, 5 STOCK DOVE, just 2 PIED WAGTAILS in the top fields , GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER and 2 SKYLARK. It was a good day for BUZZARDS with 8 been seen including a mini kettle of 6 .A final bonus was a calling CURLEW from over the flood waters, hopefully they will recede  enough in time to allow a further attempt at nesting as no doubt their first go will have been washed away

Swifts move through

I did not get out until gone 4pm but I managed to do 2 hour stint around the patch . It was very apparent that overhead passage was going to be the order of the day with 80 pus SWIFT and 75 plus SWALLOW moving north, also 8 HOUSE MARTIN tagging along. The hedges were slightly quieter with 6 BLACKCAP, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 4 WHITETHROAT,2 YELLOWHAMMER, 2 LINNET, no whinchats today. The top fields were not as busy as they have been, a flock of 10 PIED WAGTAILS feeding, a superb female SPARROWHAWK made a valiant attempt at a passing SWALLOW , I actually heard the wind snap as the bird turned in midair. The best of the rest were 6 BUZZARD , 4 RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE, 3 STOCK DOVE, also 2 HARE . It makes me wonder if I am seeing all this at the end of the day what am I missing when I am working.

No Time

After yesterdays excess and a morning of torrential rain I felt it would be a bit like after the big show,in the event I took a short walk around the patch as I had an appointment early evening and came away feeling that I was missing out on another yesterday! .Time meant I could not take in the top fields , but around the other field margins were ,1 BUZZARD, 1 RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE, GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER and 2 PIED WAGTAIL OVER. It was obvious that an influx of BLACKCAP had taken place with 10 been seen/heard. 1 singing REDSTART in the distance was nice and it was pleasing to see 5 WHITETHROAT in the same places as last year.After yesterdays WHINCHAT low and behold another popped up , 2 chiffchaff made up the migrant tally .An added bonus was a calling CURLEW over the flooded river meadows . I came away feeling that I had missed alot of birds , so lets hope I get more time tommorrow. Oh I FORGOT THERE WERE 8 SWALLOW and 1 SWIFT over

Cracker

It felt sort of Birdy today. After work I had an appointment in Tewkesbury and I noticed on the way and back that there were parties of SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS feeding over many of the fields . So as soon as I could Willow and myself were hot footing it up the road, and yes I was right.Today was one the best days for a very long time, birds were taking advantage of a break in the weather and were streaming north. The first bird I saw was a SPARROWHAWK over the garden, so a good start .The hedgerows were a much better bet today, with 5 BLACKCAP,6 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 WHITETHROAT, 1 YELLOWHAMMER , but the best birds by a country mile were 3 superb male WHINCHAT,1 WILLOW WARBLER was also singing. Now this was getting good and it soon became apparent that there was even some vis mig, at least 74 plus SWALLOW and 10 plus HOUSE MARTIN over to the north. Around the fields were 2 BUZZARD, 3 STOCK DOVE, 1 GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER and 4 SKYLARK. It again the top fields that that provided the qaulity with a flock of 8 PIED WAGTAILS showing that WAGTAILS are still passing through, it was then it got even better, first a male KESTREL , then 2 male and 1 female WHEATEARS perched on fence posts and then a stunning HOBBY through to the north ,low and less than 30 feet from me. The final bird seen was a MEADOW PIPIT which is running a little late , but I think that is true of many birds this year. Can"t wait for tommorrow although the weather forcast is pretty dire.

Short blast

A quick dash between the ever present rain , I managed a short survey of the patch and felt quite happy until a friend of mine Rob Large told what he had at Coombe Hill Meadows 170 plus ARTIC TERN etc but a full mouth watering account will appear on the Holy Bible of bird sights , THE GLOSTER BIRDER So in a 30 minute paddle a singing YELLOW WATAIL was nice, 11 SWALLOW, 1 HOUSE MARTIN , 3 SWIFT over to the north. A BUZZARD low over in the rain . The hedgerows had 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 BLACKCAP, LINNET, YELLOWHAMMER,1 COMMON WHITETHROAT ( I think different individual to yesterdays as in another breeding territory , or as least I am hoping so)A drumming GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER outside the front door was a nice start to the walk. 1 STOCK DOVE over.