Bittern still at Dudgrove

31 Jan - an evening visit to Dudgrove, with lake partially iced over. Just when I was giving up, a Bittern flew out of the reeds right next to me and landed on the ice on the far side, then climbed up into the reeds. Presumably one of the birds I saw on 3 Jan. Also present, 12 Goldeneye (3m, 9f).

South Coast

30 Jan - a successful winter day's birding. I started with the Great Grey Shrike (4, copyright Adam Hartley) found recently near Oxford, and it showed well after a short wait, so next stop Blashford Lakes S of Salisbury. 4 Bramblings (3,JM) were around the feeding station together with Siskins and Redpolls in the finch flock. Nearby at Harbridge in the Avon valley, 8 Bewick's Swans were with the Mutes and the Great White Egret was in the reeds upstream.
I then moved on to Ferrybridge near Weymouth, where, despite distant views due to the low tide, 15 Med Gulls (1,JM - taken last winter here) showed well from the causeway, a mixture of adult and immature plumages. Also seen where Dark-bellied Brent Geese (2, JM) and Red-breasted Mergansers. 5 Black-necked Grebes were in Portland Harbour.
Finally, Hayling and Langstone Harbour gave a good selection of waders, including Avocet, Greenshank and Bar-tailed Godwit amongst the commoner species.

Bewick's Swans at Water Eaton

29 Jan - a morning visit to Water Eaton, near Cricklade, and distant views of 3+ Bewick's Swans feeding by the Thames with Mute Swans - smaller size and black/yellow bills. A good bird for the Cricklade area.

Whooper Swans in South Wiltshire

28 Jan - 5 Whooper Swans still with the Mute Swans near Stapleford in South Wiltshire, and seen distantly from the A36 (photo, copyright Bob Blamey). At nearby Stoford, a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl at 4.15 pm, but no further sign of any by dusk.

Bean Geese in Oxfordshire

22 Jan - A visit to Aston, near Witney, in the afternoon gave distant but satisfactory views of a flock of 7 Tundra Bean Geese, typically wary and a rare bird in Oxfordshire. Weather poor with rain/drizzle. Photo, copyright Steve Burch.

Southern Thailand 8 -16 Jan 2010

8-16 Jan - a short Birdseekers trip to southern Thailand, primarily to see and photograph waders, but also to see forest specialities. The photo opportunities were no quite so good as I had hoped, but included a Spoon-billed Sandpiper (one of perhaps 5-6 in Thailand this winter) and an impressive flock of 44 Nordmann's Greenshanks, together with 100s of Great Knot. King's Preserve held very close Long-toed Stints and Marsh Sandpipers, also a Thick-billed Warbler. White-fronted Plover and a Pallas's Gull were seen on a coastal boat trip. Forest highlights included a pair of Gurney's Pittas, also a spectacular Red-bearded Bee-Eater, Black Hornbills, a heard-only Malaysian Rail-Babbler, a Rufous-collared Kingfisher, a Chestnut-naped Forktail and 2 Philentoma species.

Hen Harrier photo....

4 Jan - this superb photo of a male Hen Harrier was taken at Holton Heath in Dorset, copyright Tim Balmer. I hope to get down to Dorset for a winter birding day when the weather eventually improves....will there be any Dartford Warblers left this spring?

Marsh Harrier at Waterhay!

3 Jan - a late afternoon visit, in the current very cold icy weather, to Waterhay and the hide overlooking the reedbed. At 3.55pm the female Marsh Harrier appeared and showed well, in flight and perched, until 4.08pm when it went to roost in the reedbed (photos JM). Only my second ever Marsh Harrier in the Water Park. Also seen, a Cetti's Warbler (and it or another calling), and 2 Water rails were heard. The sunset was spectacular and very cold-looking!

New Year birding 2010

1-2 Jan - a total of 90 species seen over the two days - on the 1st, a morning visit to CWP in icy, sunny conditions produced 5 Smew including a drake, also 11 Goosander, together with Pintail and Shoveler. Pit 125 still held the 2 juvenile Great Northern Divers. Driffield area held the usual Grey Partridge(4) and a small flock of Golden Plover. Slimbridge in the afternoon gave a surprisingly good selection of waders in the frozen conditions - Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Snipe and Dunlin - as well as the traditional White-fronted Geese and Bewick's Swans(3). Finally, Hawling produced 2-3 Barn Owls but no Short-eareds. 77 species on New Years Day.
On 2nd Jan, I looked unsuccessfully for Brambling in Savernake, but 6 flyover Crossbills were a bonus. Bury Down produced an obliging Short-eared Owl and 3 Red Kites(2) in the winter sunshine, then a dash back to Dudgrove in the CWP was just in time for 2 Bitterns to fly round(photo 1, copyright Paul Masters) and land in full view on the ice at the edge of the reedbed. A CWP tick! Photos 2-4 JM.