February continued........

The second half of February continued in the same vein, lockdown meaning that birding was basically restricted to CWP area. From , mild weather returned and brought and end to the several weeks of freezing conditions and taste of proper, old-fashioned winter. CWP highlights included regular wintering Great White Egrets and Marsh Harriers, especially in Clevaland Lakes area. Red Kites also seen regularly, and several flyby Sparrowhawks noted. Early signs of spring being around the corner were drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers and singing Mistle Thrushes. Blakehill can be rather bleak in dull and/or windy weather, but the wintering pair of Stonechats could be relied on around the rough field area. Duck at Eysey and Clevaland Lakes included Pintail and Shoveler, and the stream at Shorncote was fairly reliable for Grey Wagtail. Up to 30 Snipe were roosting on the islands at Eysey. Throughout, Fieldfare and Redwing were seen in varying numbers but were very nomadic, having exhausted the local berry crop weeks before. Brambling numbers in Cirencester Park diminished steadily through February, and I last saw them on 23 Feb when 10-15 remained, the males by this time resplendent in developing summer plumage, black caps and napes and broad orange shoulders. Southwest winds and mild temperatures presumably encouraged the birds to start their spring movement NE.