New Years Day 2020

A cloudy but dry and calm day to start the 2020 list. First stop the Water Park, Shorncote in winter is reliable for Little Egret, Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler and these were all logged (although I was too late for the Barn Owl). Stonechat, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail also here, with winter Thrushes and a Green Woodpecker. Pit 56 holds Goosander and 5 were present, also a few Siskins calling. Red-crested Pochard on Pit 44 then to Twitcher's Gate, where Great White Egret and a hunting female Marsh Harrier were on view on the same scope view! good numbers of Pintail and Shoveler have been on this pit recently, possibly related to the flooding this winter around the Thames area and fields in CWP. At Daglingworth, c180 Golden Plovers circled calling mournfully, but the Park Corner Great Grey Shrike was not on view. On to WWT Slimbridge - the usual suspects went on the list here - Bewick's Swan,White-fronted Goose, plus a bonus of 8 Pink-footed Geese that have been wintering. Commoner waders included Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank. The Frampton Tawny Owl was not at home, but a late afternoon detour to the Cotswolds produced 3-4 Short-eared Owls hunting. A Tawny Owl calling at home after dark gave a total for the day of 92 species.....