Waxwings..... and Smew

8 Dec - I finally caught up with some Swindon Waxwings, arriving in Oakhurst just as the flock was perching on aerials after feeding - approximately 30 birds in total - I just had time to grab 2 or 3 photos before they flew off, and I just had one further view of the flock distantly in flight. Photo JM. In the late afternoon, 2 redhead Smew were on pit 29 in the CWP, and 7 Goosanders on the adjacent pit 30. Unfortunately some wildfowlers arrived, and disturbed all the birds, but happily appeared to be very poor shots. I didn't know the shooting rights were private here, which seems strange next to a busy road. A very quick look at pit 74 produced a pair of Pintail, 9 Curlew and a Little Egret in flight.