Coate Water

28 Mar - A quick look at Coate Water this evening, and no sign of the Little Gulls reported by Nigel Pleass earlier, but the Cetti's Warbler (pic) singing by the 2nd hide, also 6 Chiffchaffs singing. Also seen - a Little Egret, 5 redhead Goosander, 10 Shoveler, a Treecreeper and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 25 Redwings and 5 Fieldfares.

Shorncote....first Swallow of 2011, plus usual specialities

27 Mar - An evening walk, and my first Swallow of the year flew north, and a couple of Sand Martins flew high overhead. Up to 6 Little Ringed Plovers (3,4) were active with a couple of birds displaying. 4 noisy Oystercatchers (5) were around pit 79 with 2 Redshanks calling. Duck numbers have dwindled with 13 Shoveler, 14 Wigeon and only 2 Teal remaining. Reed Buntings were singing but no sound of any Cetti's Warblers. Little Egrets on pits 79/89 totalled 4 birds. Earlier, a singing Blackcap and 4 Snipe by the hide at Waterhay. All photos JM.

Garganey and Little Gulls at Farmoor

26 Mar - a brief visit to Farmoor in the afternoon in sunny weather, and very good views of the drake Garganey close to the causeway on F1. The Gull flock on F1 contained 8 Little Gulls, a mixture of immatures and adults, resting in a group on the water or hawking for insects in tern-like flight. Typical small size, delicate bills, partial hoods and agile flight showing white primaries. Surprisingly, no hirundines seen. Photos, copyright Nic Hallam, Farmoor birding site. I left my camera behind!

Ravens....

25 Mar - These photos were taken with a standard 50mm lens ! The closest I have ever got to a pair of Ravens, these were eyeing up the various lunches being taken on top of Cribyn in the Brecon Beacons. Interesting how the birds become very tame when they know they are not being persecuted.

Waterhay and the Thames Path

24 Mar - A morning walk in sunny weather, and quite productive. 13 Chiffchaffs and 12 Reed Buntings were counted along the Thames Path between Waterhay and the new pit 74 hides - also - a Cetti's Warbler, a Blackcap calling, 8 Bullfinches, 2 Jays, 3 Green Woodpeckers, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming. Waders included 6 Snipe from the pit 68 hide, 3 Curlews in flight, and 2 Ruff on pit 74 from the Wickwater hide. Also on pit 74 - 5 Goldeneye (3m, 2f), 4 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall and a Little Egret.

LRPs back in CWP

20 Mar - A late afternoon walk in spring sunshine confirmed that Little Ringed Plovers have arrived back at Shorncote in the Cotswold Water Park, as a couple were displaying actively, flying and calling together (3,4), and a group of 3 were on the ground. Also present were 2 vocal Oystercatchers (5), a Redshank and a Green Sandpiper. 24 Shoveler (2) were on pit 85, a few Teal, Pochard and Gadwall also present. One Chiffchaff was singing and a few Meadow Pipits and Fieldfares were around. All photos JM.

Rough-legged Buzzard on the Oxfordshire Downs

19 Mar - An early morning visit to Cholsey downs in superb frosty weather paid off, as the Rough-legged Buzzard that had been in the area for a few days appeared and circled in the sunshine, then soared with several Common Buzzards and Red Kites. In comparison, it appeared distinctly longer-winged as well as much more contrasting, with striking white rump, pale head and dark belly patch. The bird flew high N at around 10.30 after the thermals developed, so birders arriving late did not see it. An excellent Oxfordshire tick (photos 1-3, copyright Roger Wyatt/Oxonbirds; photos 6-7 JM). Red Kites showed very well (4-5, JM), a total of 19 seen including birds at Streatley and over the M4; as did several Yellowhammers (8, JM) along with Corn Buntings and a calling Grey Partridge. A Stoat was seen very close along the track (9,JM).

Shorncote this afternoon

13 Mar - A late afternoon walk around Shorncote and a reasonable selection of birds - 5 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper and a Redshank, 4 Little Egrets, 14 Shoveler and 2 Shelduck, together with the first 2 Chiffchaffs of the year, 10+ Reed Buntings a Redwing and a Green Woodpecker heard.

The Great Grey Shrike near Winchcombe

12 Mar - This excellent photo of the Great Grey Shrike at Waterhatch Farm was taken by (copyright) Tom Mabbett.

Gloucestershire birding

12 Mar - A successful morning's birding in Glos - first of all, excellent views of a flock of up to 9 Hawfinches at Speech House in the Forest of Dean, in the oaks by the sheep pens, perching up and calling frequently prior to 9am. All photos JM. Nearby, a Goshawk from New Fancy Viewpoint and a couple of Crossbills flew over calling. Later, the Great Grey Shrike seen well at Waterhatch Farm near Winchcombe, feeding along the hedgerows in the sunlight and frequently hovering. Nearby, a mixed finch flock at Hawling contained at least 7 Bramblings. Finally, a quick check on pit 74 in the CWP produced a first winter Med Gull with the BH Gulls, and a Little Egret - also 2 drake Shovelers and 2 pairs Gadwall.

CWP late afternoon

6 Mar - a late afternoon walk in CWP in sunny late winter weather, clear and cold - at Shorncote (upper) a Little Egret in flight, 2 Snipe, 80 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 20 Pochard and 11 Shoveler, also a female Sparrowhawk dashed through, and 100 Fieldfares flew SW. At pit 12, the adult summer Mediterranean Gull (lower) was again in the roost with approx 500 Black-headed Gulls and 20 Common Gulls.
So, 7 Smew and an adult summer Med Gull in the same weekend can't be bad......

CWP 29/30

5 Mar - A good count of 7 Smew on pit 29 this afternoon, with 2 pairs displaying and another pair seen in flight in the sunshine. I took the photo (upper) in CWP in Dec 2010. Also a few Goosander around, with 2 pairs on pit 29 and 7 (4 drakes) on the adjacent pit 30.

Great Spotted Woodpecker at the feeder....

4 Mar - I happened to have the camera handy this morning when a female Great Spotted Woodpecker paid a brief visit to the garden feeder, the first time I have seen one this winter, despite the cold weather.