twenty

Agree totally.

Male Greenfinch on sunflower heart feeder yesterday, along with five goldfinch.

Singular Swallow and House Martin reports have come in for the last week or two, Sand martin numbers much higher and reported three weeks ago in places (50/60 birds now being reported at Frampton on Severn), from a single sighting two weeks ago. Cuckoos now being reported in France, should be here within a week or two, Wheatear and Ring Ouzel reported recently, Redwing and Fieldfare only stragglers remain, Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher, Chiffchaff, Hobby etc not that far away. (Early April usually).

Three male Ring Ouzel on Cleeve Hill (Cheltenham Racecourse backdrop) yesterday, 25/3/23.

I'm already in, got two squares, one in the Forest of Dean, and another west of Gloucester. I'm in, more required.

Hawfinches in the Yew Trees of the Abbey Ground car park Cirencester yesterday (21/3/23)

I know it seems daft that Gulls etc are on the red list, but the way the lists are compiled is over three specific surveys. 1, Historic population decline between 1800-2021. 2, 50% decline in UK breeding in the last 25 years, 3, 50% decline in breeding range in the last 25 years. Previous red lists included the Golden Oriole, which is now BLACK listed, meaning it no longer breeds in the UK (ceased in 2009). There are 8 others on the Black list that have not bred in the UK in recent years. For more info, go to Birds of conservation concern, BTO online. Hope this info helps.

Spring Equinox today, and a Swallow spotted at WWT Slimbridge yesterday (19/3/23).

A House Martin spotted at Nailsworth yesterday (18/3/23).

Five Sand Martins over Frampton sailing lake yesterday, 13/3/23.

Agree, same reason I stopped,

Cock Greenfinch on the garden feeder (sunflower hearts) today. Drake SCAUP at Slimbridge WWT for the last few days.

Done 👍

Female Greenfinch on the sunflower heart feeder this morning, Male greenfinch yesterday, Also 15 Goldfinch using the Nyger and sunflower heart feeders at the same time, with dunnock cleaning up underneath. Had a pied wagtail in last week as well.

Maybe not the hardcore twitchers, but the disturbance by the general public, birdwatchers or people who watch birds caused a lot of disturbance, I'll bet a few twitchers had a visit as well, they can't help themselves.

Believe it or not it has been twitchers that have been the main problem with the re-introduction, constantly trying to observe the birds and causing the obvious wariness and panic amongst the birds, uncontrolled dogs have also taken their toll, with polite messages of ground breeding birds ignored by certain dog owners with little interest in the wildlife. Probably blown of course from Wiltshire I would think oowee.

After 150 years,(since being hunted to extinction,) the Great Bustard is breeding again in Britain for the first time since 1872. Classed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservations Red List, the Great Bustard is successfully breeding, with 24 nests recorded in 2022, containing 2/3 eggs in each, up from 22 nests in 2021, and from 6 nests in 2019, with the population now estimated at around 100. It has been the work of a group of bird enthusiasts with dogged determination who have achieved this, releasing rescued birds from Spain and Russia onto Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, along the edges of the MOD's Artillery and armoured vehicle training areas, they have learnt to live alongside the disturbance. Standing 3 feet tall, and a wingspan of 8 feet, it is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world at c20kgs.

Further to my posting of 6/12/22, my cheque has now been drawn (15/12/22), I have still had no correspondence from the police, not even a simple e-mail confirming receipt of application, ( good job I used signed for mail), the Royal mail's tracking system is the only confirmation of receipt I have,(sent on 14/11/22) SGC expires 15/01/23. FYI, Doctors fee was £60, for a signature.

Plenty of pictures of traps, try on line,........".Catching up Pheasant Traps," The Trap Man.

The predicted Waxwing movement appears to be alive, sightings today (18/12/22), per Birdguide, report Waxwing in, Dumfries and Galloway, Angus and Dundee, Lothian, Co Down, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Anglesey, Shropshire, and Suffolk.........🤞

The report also included a garden sighting of a Harris Hawk, (obvious escapee), and in another garden a Teal ! .........nice garden, Meadow Pipit reported in two gardens as well. No Waxwing reported from winter 21/22, but an eruption of Waxwing forecast for this winter 22/23, hope that turns out to be correct.

Having just received a garden bird watch report for Gloucestershire, (approx 250 gardens), the Bullfinch was down -33% on the previous report, and Song Thrush down - 35%, Chaffinch +1%, Blackcap +18%, Dunnock +5%, Great Spotted Woodpecker +16%, Coal Tit -24%. Agree about certain feeders being more popular, the ones nearest bushes and trees (safe reconnaissance, and escape), are certainly well used, and our local Sparrowhawk gets hungry too, but that's nature.

Another Greenfinch on the feeders yesterday, the second one in a fortnight, after a scarcity over recent months/years. Hopefully they are recovering from the trichomonosis outbreak, which started in 2007, Chaffinch are also appearing more, but they were not affected as much as the Greenfinch population.

We put 75kg of wild bird mix out through the spinner this afternoon, and topped up the Perdix feeders with 10kg in each, Lots of Brambling in the mixed finch flocks round here. It's ok RSPB, no need to thank us, we do it because we care about the birds.

If only the RSPB could see them, they never report the good work of supplementary feeding on shooting estates,but are quick to attack us on other issues. keep up the good work.