Staines, Theale and Glos

12 Jan - an early morning visit to Heathrow meant I could check a few sites en route home. First, Staines reservoirs, where 3 Black-necked Grebes are wintering on the south basin and showed well in the sunshine. Then, a quick check on Wigmore Lane pit at Theale where the 1st-winter Scaup was still present, but no sign again of the Ferruginous Duck.
Finally, in sunshine, a couple of hours in Gloucestershire. There was a dusting of snow on the Cotswolds, and a the finch flock near Uley was elusive but I found a single male Brambling (top). The Cattle Egret (centre) was in its usual field at Fretherne with 9 Little Egrets. Then an hour at Slimbridge - a lot more birds present in the flooded conditions - a Spotted Redshank on the Tack Piece (bottom) with Redshank, 3 Ruff,Curlew and Dunlin; 500+ Golden Plover flew over and 3 Grey Plover were on the river; and many wildfowl including the Tundra Bean Goose. Finally, a Barn Owl at Nebrow Hill appeared in the dusk at 4.15pm.