November

This is the month to head to the south or east coast, Lots of wildfowl will be arriving, head for the Norfolk coast for Brent and Pink footed Geese these should be here in the thousands and it’s a stunning site to see!

With strong North East winds the Norfolk coast is the best place to see Little Auks and Waxwings, if you can stand the cold!!!

 Closer to home, Slimbridge in Gloucestershire is brilliant for Ducks, Swans and Geese, all giving very close views from the many hides , in the past it was possible to see thousands of White fronted geese here but now as it is getting milder the numbers are down to a few hundred !

If we get prolonged west / south west winds, Severn Beach can be very good for Leach’s Petrel, I have had my best views of these tiny sea birds from here, the best place to look from is from the sea wall opposite the village an hour either side of high tide!

December

This month is normally very quiet for birds, I tend to look at inland reservoirs for wintering divers and grebes, Chew Valley Lake is always a good bet for a Great Northern Diver, I also head out onto Salisbury Plain for Hen Harriers and Short eared owls, a slow drive across just before dusk normally gets you one or both species along with Barn Owls 

Slimbridge in Gloucestershire is brilliant for Ducks, Swans and Geese, all giving very close views from the many hides.

The Cotswold Water Park is well worth a visit with so many pits to look at there is always something to find, there should be Goosander, Goldeneye and with a little luck Smew and Scaup, try pits 29, 30, 44, 57, 68 a, 68b and 74, if you are out late then try pit 74 or 16 for a gull roost, I have found Iceland and Glaucous Gulls here in the past

Severn Beach area can also be very good for Wildfowl, the best area is between the 2 motorway bridges at Northwick Warth / New Passage area looking upriver from the last house, Severn Beach sea wall can be worth a look and if you are lucky you might find a Diver or winter grebe, if you do please let me know!

January

Places to visit

Slimbridge in Gloucestershire is brilliant for Ducks, Swans and Geese, all giving very close views from the many hides.

The Cotswold Water Park is well worth a visit with so many pits to look at there is always something to find, there should be Goosander, Goldeneye and with a little luck Smew and Scaup, try pits 29, 30, 44, 57, 68 a, 68b and 74, if you are out late then try pit 74 or 16 for a gull roost, I have found Iceland and Glaucous Gulls here in the past

Severn Beach area can also be very good for Wildfowl, the best area is between the 2 motorway bridges at Northwick Warth / New Passage area looking upriver from the last house, Severn Beach sea wall can be worth a look and if you are lucky you might find a Diver or winter grebe, if you do please let me know!

February 2016

Places to visit

Slimbridge in Gloucestershire is brilliant for Ducks, Swans and Geese, all giving very close views from the many hides.

The Cotswold Water Park is well worth a visit with so many pits to look at there is always something to find, there should be Goosander, Goldeneye and with a little luck Smew and Scaup, try pits 29, 30, 44, 57, 68 a, 68b and 74, if you are out late then try pit 74 or 16 for a gull roost, I have found Iceland and Glaucous Gulls here in the past

Severn Beach area can also be very good for Wildfowl, the best area is between the 2 motorway bridges at Northwick Warth / New Passage area looking upriver from the last house, Severn Beach sea wall can be worth a look and if you are lucky you might find a Diver or winter grebe, if you do please let me know!

March 2016

Places to visit

The first summer migrants should be arriving towards the end of the month, keep an eye out for Little Ringed Plover, Chiffchaff, Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Sand Martin, Swallow, Sandwich Tern and if you are lucky a Stone Curlew

The Cotswold Water Park is well worth a visit with so many pits to look at there is always something to find, there should be Goosander, Goldeneye and with a little luck Smew and Scaup, try pits 29, 30, 44, 57, 68 a, 68b and 74, if you are out late then try pit 74 or 16 for a gull roost, I have found Iceland and Glaucous Gulls here in the past

Severn Beach area can also be very good for Wildfowl, the best area is between the 2 motorway bridges at Northwick Warth / New Passage area looking upriver from the last house, Severn Beach sea wall can be worth a look and if you are lucky you might find a Diver or winter grebe, if you do please let me know!

On Saturday 30th April we are holding a demonstration day for Kowa and Panasonic products. 
Representatives from the two companies will be on hand to answer any queries you may have.
Renowned photographer, Paul Hackett, will be running Digiscoping demonstrations at 11.00am and 2.00pm weather permitting. Being the Digiscoping consultant for Kowa optics and an ambassador for Panasonic, Paul is ideally suited to demonstrate the products on offer. 
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to <a href="mailto:optics@aceoptics.co.uk?subject=Kowa%20and%20Panasonic%20Digiscoping%20Event">contact us</a>.

April 2016

Places to visit

The Cotswold Water Park is well worth a visit with so many pits to look at there is always something to find, there should be Little Ringed Plover, Hobby, cuckoo, waders, terns and many warbler species

Severn Beach area can be very good for waders, the best area is between the 2 motorway bridges at Northwick Warth / New Passage area looking upriver from the last house and at the excellent new Pilning wetlands, Severn Beach sea wall can be worth a look an hour either side of the high tide if we get prolonged south west winds for terns and if you are lucky Skuas

Salisbury Plain can worth a look if passing through, if you are lucky you could find Stone Curlew, Hobby, Whinchat, Wheatear, Grasshopper Warbler, Turtle Dove and Quail 

Recent Bird records (South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the old county of Avon)

Reports in RED are my own sightings (number) = total species I have seen this year so far.

TOTAL SO FAR (216)

Recent Bird records (South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the old county of Avon)

As the south west of England’s ONLY Leica Premier dealer, we are hosting a day showcasing the SL, M and T systems, the Q, D-lux, V-Lux and X cameras alongside their superb range of binoculars and telescopes.

Experts from Leica will be on hand to offer help & advice across the extensive range of premium products. They will be delighted to discuss and demonstrate the products to you & offer advice on existing equipment.

Refreshments will be available from 12.00 to 4.00 PM

We would welcome your email outlining any specific interest or enquiry you have in advance so that we may best help you on the day.

May 2016

Places to visit

The Cotswold Water Park is well worth a visit with so many pits to look at there is always something to find, there should be Little Ringed Plover, Hobby, cuckoo, waders, terns and many warbler species

Severn Beach area can be very good for waders, the best area is between the 2 motorway bridges at Northwick Warth / New Passage area looking upriver from the last house and at the excellent new Pilning wetlands, Severn Beach sea wall can be worth a look an hour either side of the high tide if we get prolonged south west winds for terns and if you are lucky Skuas

Salisbury Plain can worth a look if passing through, if you are lucky you could find Montague’s Harrier, Stone Curlew, Hobby, Whinchat, Wheatear, Grasshopper Warbler, Turtle Dove and Quail 

Recent Bird records (South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the old county of Avon)

Reports in RED are my own sightings (number) = total species I have seen this year so far.

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly near Severn Beach

June and July 2016

Places to visit

June and July are the quietest months, apart from Quail, Honey Buzzard and Nightjar which are late arrivals most birds are settled down breeding. I tend to go out looking for Butterflies in these 2 months

Sometimes get the odd super rare bird turn up, last year it was Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire.

The Cotswold Water Park is well worth a visit with so many pits to look at there is always something to find, there should be Little Ringed Plover, Hobby, cuckoo, waders, terns and many warbler species

Salisbury Plain can worth a look if passing through, if you are lucky you could find Montague’s Harrier, Stone Curlew, Hobby, Whinchat, Wheatear, Grasshopper Warbler, Turtle Dove and Quail 

Recent Bird records (South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the old county of Avon)

Reports in RED are my own sightings (number) = total species I have seen this year so far.

TOTAL SO FAR (253)