Review of the year 2010

31 Dec -

Deep frozen Water Park

26 Dec - Today was forecast to be the last day of the freeze, and a veil of high cloud spread in during the afternoon, heralding a weather front from the southwest. I took more photos of the exceptional conditions, with persistent hoar frost. The garden thermometer registered -8C. Even the slow-flowing parts of the River Thames are starting to become iced over. The landscape has been transformed from dull and damp, to a thing of Siberian brilliance in the winter sunshine.

Winter Thrushes at Christmas

25 Dec - a quick stop en route to family for Christmas lunch, and at last I managed some decent photos of Redwings during the current cold snap - they've moved into towns increasingly in the last week as they get more hungry. These were in Cirencester town centre (2,3,5) with Fieldfares (1,4).

The CWP Bittern photographed

18 Dec - The Bittern which I saw on 17th, in the reedbed on pit 44, was photographed in the reeds adjacent to one of the houses at Lower Mill, next to pit 44, the next morning - photo, copyright R and S Pennie. It seems to be moving between pits 44/57 and Lower Mill.

Big Freeze continues

19 Dec - A stunning winter landscape, with 4"-5" snow, and few birds in evidence - A Little Egret (6) feeding on the River Thames by pits 44/57, and a Snipe (5) flew in there - at pit 30 a redhead Smew (photos 10,11 JM) and a drake Goosander were still present. A few Goldeneye around, with 9 (6 drakes,pic 9 ) on pit 16 - also 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls on the ice there. A lot of wildfowl have moved on, presumably to coastal waters that are less frozen up. An amazing wintry sunset over the ice and snow (photos 12 and 13, JM).

Heavy fall of snow (and more Waxwings)

18 Dec - A rapid fall of several inches of snow in the morning gave true winter conditions and a very busy feeder. I counted 18 species around the garden area including 5 species of thrush - in addition to the possessive Fieldfare that commandeered the berry tree (1,2) I logged Blackbirds (3), a Song Thrush (4), a Mistle Thrush and 2 Redwings. Pied Wagtail and Goldfinch were among the more usual species. The Waxwings (7,8) were unfortunately not in the garden but about 4 miles away in north Swindon, where I photographed them in falling snow. A chilly -8 overnight.

Scandinavian scenes in the CWP

17 Dec - a very successful late afternoon visit to the CWP after seeing the Cirencester Waxwings - on checking pit 44, I idly scanned the reeds and had a shock to see the Bittern sitting out in full view at the edge of the reedbed, enjoying the rays of the late afternoon sun - too distant for anything other than a poor record shot (4,JM;5). Two drake Goosander were on pit 44 (5,JM) and 4 birds, including 3 males, were on pit 30. A Little Egret and Water Rail were on the River Thames by pit 44 and a Lesser Redpoll flew over. Generally rather few wildfowl around as most pits frozen. The Smew seem to have moved on for the present. Two smart adult Yellow-legged Gulls were with other large gulls on the ice on pit 57. At Shorncote the Barn Owl was sitting in a pollarded willow, and a flock of 18 Waxwings flew over calling and heading west. Deep frozen everywhere, reminiscent of my winter trips to Sweden - a very clear winter light, and a clarity and tranquillity about the landscape.

Waxwings in Cirencester

17 Dec - thanks to a text message I managed to catch up with a flock of Waxwings - at least 15 - in Cirencester town centre, in the Forum car park by the police station - oblivious to all the Christmas shoppers passing beneath. Good views in the afternoon sun, although rather hard to photograph as mostly staying in the treetops, calling and preening. Later I had a flock of 18 fly over calling, at Shorncote in the CWP, heading west. Probably different birds?

Frozen Water Park

12 Dec - most of the pits in the CWP are now frozen, with the birds crammed on to the small ice-free areas which remain. Pit 44 at Somerford Keynes held a drake and 4 redhead Smew this afternoon, on a patch of open water close to the path, so I was able to photograph this normally wary species, one of my favourite birds.
Other birds seen - 25 Goosander on pit 30, 6 Goosander and 12 Shoveler on pit 57, 5 Pintail over pit 29 and a Water Rail calling at pit 44, together with a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard, and a Green Woodpecker in flight.

Waxwings at Stroud

11 Dec - I had reasonable views of c15 Waxwings at Whiteshill in Stroud, feeding on berries at the roadside, but they were fairly flighty and the light was rather dull so not the best conditions for photography (JM x3). Distinctive profile and trilling call in flight.