Waxwings in Swindon

28 Nov - a grapevine message came through early afternoon with news of a small flock of Waxwings in Grange Park, Swindon, and within a few minutes I saw 8 birds sitting in a treetop, distinctive silhouette and crest, but they were mobile and flying around the area. Hopefully they will stay as there were some berry bushes nearby. Photos, upper copyright Tony Martin, lower copyright Steve Davies.

Bramblings and then CWP

27 Nov - a dull, cold day with some snow flurries, but a productive couple of hours. First I checked out Witcombe Woods, were I have seen Brambling (upper) in previous years, and was surprised to find a small flock straight away - 15+ birds, mostly males, with a few Chaffinches. Good views of the birds perched, and heard calling.
I then returned via CWP, where 10 Goosander were on pit 44 (9m) and 4 (1m ) on pit 30. Best of all, a redhead Smew had returned to pit 29, the same area as last year (middle photo from winter 09-10, JM).
I spent the last 45 mins of daylight at Shorncote, where I did not see the Short-eared Owl, but the Barn Owl gave good views instead. A real bonus was a male Merlin (lower) that landed briefly on top of a hedge before flying off SW and showing its small size, fairly short squarish tail and grey upperparts. Possibly the bird seen recently at Blakehill? The regular Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail were heard calling here. Another winter dusk with penetrating cold (top, Shorncote reedbeds, JM).

South Coast briefly

21 Nov - an overnight stay with family enabled me to return home via the south coast - first stop Keyhaven where the flock of Lapland Buntings (lower pic) has been present for several weeks. After a short wait, I saw and heard 2 birds in flight, with distinctive rattling call and large size. I then had brief views of one on the ground in the stubble field. Also present at Keyhaven - Brent Geese, 5 Little Egrets, Redshank, Curlew, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal.
Then I had excellent views of the 1st-winter Long-billed Dowitcher at Lodmoor, right in front of the viewing mound (upper photo, JM). Snipe-like long bill and overall shape, with delicate brown/buff markings. 1st-winter Med Gull and Peregrine also seen at Lodmoor.

Scottish winter birding 19-20 Nov

20 Nov - not good weather for Munros, but fine for birding. My first stop was the Slamannan area where after a bit of searching I located the wintering flock of Taiga Bean Geese (1) and counted 95 - very wary birds, craning their necks and watching me from a distance of at least half a mile. My first ever sighting of this subspecies, as the single birds that turn up in the south of England are usually Tundra Beans. I then headed for Musselburgh and the Firth of Forth - an excellent selection of wintering birds here on the rising tide, including 4-5 smart drake Long-tailed Ducks (8), 50+ Velvet Scoters (7), Common Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Eiders, a flyby redhead Smew, a Red-throated Diver (4) and a Slavonian Grebe (5). Waders included hundreds of Knot, and smaller numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and Dunlin. A flock of 200+ Waxwings (2) flew over Musselburgh town centre but didn't land.
John Muir country park near Tyninghame has a wintering flock of Shorelarks (3) this year, and I had good views of 10 birds feeding on the saltmarsh at fairly close range, together with a mobile flock of 150+ Twite with their distinctive nasal calls. Also seen here were 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, with more Grey Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits.
Gosford Bay and Gullane Bay near Aberlady are well-known for their wintering duck, Grebes and Divers, and scanning in the persistent drizzle produced a total of 12 Long-tailed Duck, including some close views of drakes - 6 Slavonian Grebes, a Red-necked Grebe (6), a Black-throated and 2 Red-throated Divers were also seen. Other birds seen during the day included Brambling, Redpoll, Siskin and Rock Pipit.
An excellent tally for a winters day with some wind and rain and limited daylight hours.

Little Egrets

14 Nov - a quick look while passing the CWP in the afternoon produced 2 Little Egrets on pit 301, right by the A419; and 3 female Goldeneye on pit 74, the first of the winter. 1000s of Starlings were performing aerobatics at dusk over the Waterhay reedbed, a very impressive sight.

Short-eared Owl still at Shorncote

13 Nov - a late afternoon walk, and the Short-eared Owl still hunting between the pits and the South Cerney crossroads. I took the photo a couple of weeks ago. No sign of the resident Barn Owl today. Also this afternoon - a male Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail, 120+ Fieldfare, Buzzard, Kestrel, a pair of Shoveler, male Wigeon, Teal, 2+ Water Rail and 2+ Cetti's Warblers heard.

American Robin in East Devon

12 Nov - An American Robin only 2hrs away was too good to miss so I went early to Exminster Marshes and had very good views of the bird, a first-winter, feeding on berries and preening in the hedges. I was home before midday. I was definitely watching the correct bird as I was standing next to LGRE.....the second one of this species I have seen in the UK. Photo, copyright Gavin Haig.

Shorncote

7 Nov - a short walk late afternoon did not produce the Short-eared Owl, which had been seen earlier - but a Barn Owl was perched, a Little Egret flew over, 2-3 Cetti's Warblers and 2+ Water Rails called and 2 Snipe were also heard. An atmospheric winter dusk, cold and clear with little wind.

Cheddar reservoir

6 Nov - I managed to combine a trip to Bristol with a quick look at Cheddar reservoir, where, after some scanning, I found that the Red-necked Grebe was still present, in the centre of the reservoir - photos, copyright Rich Andrews (top), Gary Thoburn (lower). The two Whooper Swans were also still present, together with good numbers of duck including Pochard, Teal, Shoveler and Wigeon.

American Bittern (again).....and AGP

5 Nov - a repeat visit, fortunately to this end of Cornwall, and after a 2-hr wait, excellent views of the American Bittern which has relocated to Walmsley sanctuary near Wadebridge. The bird was feeding in the ditches of the reserve, and occasionally walking in the open and being seen in the reeds along the dykes, where it was amazingly well camouflaged. The above pictures (top two, copyright) were taken while I was watching the bird, by Mike Barker, who was sitting next to me in the hide - he kindly e-mailed me the copies above. Distinctively smaller than Eurasian Bittern, darker in colour, with obvious coarse streaking on the breast, black moustachial stripe and lemon yellow bill. Also present on site - Whooper Swan, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and 100+ Snipe.
On the way home, a stop at the Exe estuary produced distant views of the American Golden Plover (lower photo, copyright Dave Stone) - small and slender, with prominent supercilium - together with Grey Plovers, Bar- and Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, Red-breasted Mergansers, and 11 Little Egrets.

American Bittern photo

3 Nov - this photo of the American Bittern, taken in dull light, copyright Penny Clarke, shows the bird in flight on the day I saw it at Trewey Common. The bird is now giving much better views at Walmsley Sanctuary near Wadebridge.