A Broad-bodied Chaser at Ley Park today. Birdlife included a Hobby soaring high overhead, at least two Ravens, Great Spotted Woodpeckers feeding young,a singing Tree Pipit, two Spotted Flycatchers, a Garden Warbler and two Siskins.

Huge numbers of wildfowl on the still extensive flooding at Minsterworth Ham today, the most I’ve seen in this area. The highlight was a family party of five Whooper Swans. Other sightings included 15 Mute Swans, nine Shelduck, 1500 Wigeon, 32 Gadwall, 1300 Teal, 60 Mallard, 100 Pintail, 12 Shoveler, eight Grey Herons, two Little Grebes, a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine, three Golden Plover, 400 Lapwing, one Snipe, two Little Owls, two Ravens and a Chiffchaff.

The damp conditions have attracted some interesting birds over the past few days. The highlights have been up to four Garganeys and also a juvenile Wood Sandpiper. The only previous Wood Sandpiper here was a spring one on 29th April 1987 (a year that produced many more records than usual in Glos). Other sightings have included 40 Teal, 100 Lapwing, six Snipe, a Redshank, a Wheatear, ten Yellow Wagtails and singles of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Hobby. Not many dragonflies about in the breezy conditions, but there was an obliging male Southern Hawker today.

Southern Hawker

Still a pair of Curlews on territory here and another bird flew over south mid-evening. Also a surprisingly good number of gulls on a wet field included c.300 Black-headed with two first-summer Mediterranean and two Common Gulls amongst them. At least 12 male Reed Buntings are on territory in the area and the usual few Brown Hares were present.