Reflections on 2009

31 Dec - the end of another year. Some outstanding memories - the Russian Far East, amazing remote scenery and some iconic species like Steller's Sea Eagle and Whiskered Auklet - as well as some highly desired species for me - Pechora Pipit and Lancy. Namibia was another outstanding trip - stunning scenery - my last Crane sp (Wattled) much wanted - also Pel's Fishing Owl, African Skimmer, Rockrunner and Caspian Plover. My UK highlight was probably the twitch for Britain's first Eastern Crowned Warbler at South Shields. Here's to 2010!

CWP still iced up

26 Dec - a brief look around the CWP for some bracing boxing day fresh air, and the Smew are still on pit 29, this morning, including a smart drake with the 5+ redheads (above). Also there, a drake Pintail and 150+ Red-crested Pochards. A Cetti's warbler and a calling Water Rail were at Waterhay, and 2 drake Goosander on pit 44 at Somerford Keynes.

The Red-breasted Merganser at Coate

24 Dec - these excellent photos were taken by Graham Cox today.

Red-breasted Merganser at Coate

24 Dec - a quick visit to Coate Water in the afternoon of Christmas Eve gave views of the female Red-breasted Merganser, present with the Goosander flock in the ice-free part of the lake near the dam. My first Wiltshire bird apart from a fly-by in the CWP.

CWP freeze-up continues

19 Dec - a lunchtime walk, in winter sunshine, around a few pits produced a good selection of wildfowl - pit 41 held 11 Pintail, 20 Shoveler, 25 Gadwall, 7 Goldeneye and large numbers of Wigeon and Teal. A Chiffchaff and 2 Siskins were also seen. 3 Goosander were on pit 44. The Wilts section still held 5 redhead Smew, 4 on pit 29 and 1 on pit 30. Goosander totalled 5 on these pits. The lake edges are frozen up.

CWP again

18 Dec - a brief visit to CWP in the current very cold conditions, sunny with a raw east wind. Pit 29 held 5 redhead Smew, and 8 Goosander including 4 males were on pit 30. 2 Chiffchaffs flitted in the lakeside vegetation. Pit 74 produced 2 flyover Curlew, and wildfowl there included 7 Shelduck and 8 Goldeneye.

GNDs on pit 125 at CWP

17 Dec - a very cold, sunny day and the 2 Great Northern Divers still on pit 125 in the eastern CWP - one of them the pit 104 bird? diving actively,also loafing and preening in the sunlight. 20+ Siskins also seen in a mixed finch flock.

GND still at CWP....

14 Dec - this excellent shot of one of the Great Northern Divers now in residence at CWP 125 was taken by Greg Mabbett.

Long-tailed Duck at Moatlands

13 Dec - The long-staying immature Long-tailed Duck seen well on the Moatlands pit nr j12 of the M4 in Berks. Seen preening and diving actively, either a female or first-winter male. Photo, copyright Jerry O'Brien.

GND in CWP

10 Dec - a fine winter's day, and good views of the Great Northern Diver on pit 104 in the CWP (East). Seen at fairly close quarters preening and diving, though tucked away at the far corner of the pit. Also present - Water Rail, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker and Bullfinch.
Later in CWP (West), a redhead Smew on pit 29, and a drake Goosander on pit 30, both just in Wilts, and 5 Goosander (4 drakes) on pit 44, back in Glos.

Lesser Yellowlegs at Aberlady

5 Dec - these fantastic shots of the Aberlady Lesser Yellowlegs I saw in Oct were taken by Mike Thrower.

Rose-coloured Starling in Oxfordshire

5 Dec - a morning visit to Forest Hill, nr Oxford, gave good views of the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling that has been in the around for a month or more - seen well but briefly in an apple tree - pale plumage, yellow bill, and bright pink legs made it very distinctive. An Oxfordshire tick, and the first modern record for the county. Photo, copyright Stephen Burch.

Pom Skua at Beachley

29 Nov - a sub-adult Pomarine Skua has been in the Severn esturay for a few days now, and has settled at Beachley nr the Severn crossing where it is feeding on a sheep carcase. I saw it well both at rest and in flight this morning in rather dull light and drizzle. Photos taken at 1000 ISO. A Gloucestershire tick for most people!

Spotted Sandpiper in Hampshire

28 Nov - rather boggy conditions along the River Test in Hampshire where I had good but brief views of a rather flighty 1st-winter Spotted Sandpiper - slightly shorter-tailed than Common, with a more 2-toned bill. My 2nd for Hants, after the previous bird at Titchfield in 1986. A Peregrine flew over whilst on site. Photo, copyright Three Amigos birding.

Namibia and the Okavango

30 Oct - 18 Nov 2009 -