Evesham and District

Our birding travels took us to the RSPB reserve of Ham Wall, Somerset in June, and Rutland Water in July. The star bird at Ham Wall was a Bittern that flew across the reeds in front of us, and at Rutland Water the highlight was an Osprey family. At both locations we were lucky to see Hobbies chasing dragonflies such as Migrant Hawker and Four-spotted Chaser.

A dry day greeted us in the Forest of Dean. As we followed the path to the lower hide at Nagshead RSPB we heard a garden warbler but try as we might we just could not see it. Further down we had good views of male pied flycatchers, and for a few of us also a redstart. There was a great-spotted woodpecker nest just by the path and we could hear the young and see the adult birds. At the hide there was a grey wagtail, and near our lunch stop we got amazing views of a nuthatch feeding its young.

Later we drove to Parkend to look for dippers along a fast flowing stream. We were successful seeing one from a bridge as it bobbed and dived nearby, and at one point flew close over our heads. Our last stop was a Cannop Ponds stone works where we added a number of new birds for the day. There were mandarin ducks on the water and some feeders held finches and tits, including a smart male siskin.

We had a most enjoyable morning in warm sunshine. There were spring arrivals to see and hear, our first being a male Blackcap, with a female seen shortly after. Reed warblers were singing, but from so deep in the reeds they remained out of sight. The same couldn't be said for a particularly showy Sedge Warbler see from the hide overlooking East Marsh Pool. At the same location were Little Ringed Plover, a Common sandpiper and both Great White and Little Egrets.

As the morning progressed we hear and saw our first Cuckoo of the year. There were also singing Willow Warbler and Whitethroats. During the course of the morning we also saw Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Comma and Brimstone butterflies

For a new venture, in January we headed to Devon for a weekend's birding. We first visited the River Exe and Bowling Green Marsh where we were greeted by large flocks of brent geese overhead. There were waders including turnstone, black-tailed godwit and avocet, as well as excellent views of a roosting spoonbill. After a lunch watching flocks of linnets and winter thrushes, we found the coast at Dawlish Warren a challenge because of the strong, biting wind, but were cheered by a confiding rock pipit.

At Broadsands the next day, such are the vagaries of the British weather that the morning was still, and the sea calm. This enabled us to see razorbill, great northern diver and fulmar, whilst at the back of the beach car park where there is a feeding station for cirl buntings, we were lucky enough to see both male and female of this scarce species.