Otmoor raptors

27 November - A sunny afternoon at Otmoor, and very good views of a ringtail Hen Harrier (2-4) from the hide in the low afternoon sun. At least 5 Short-eared Owls seen, 4 over the MOD land (5-8) and one by the car park which gave very close views. Photos slightly grainy as taken on very fast ISO speed in the low light levels. Photos JM.

Slimbridge

26 November - A brief sanity visit after work to Slimbridge, where the BBC Autumnwatch team are still in residence (1-2). No sign of the Bittern in windy conditions in the afternoon but a Water Rail appeared briefly, and good views of a large mixed flock of waders wheeling over the estuary against a stormy sky (15) - huge numbers of Lapwings and Golden Plovers (14), with smaller numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and Dunlin. 3 Snipe (13) were hidden in the vegetation close to the Martin Smith hide, 30+ Bewick's Swans (3-7) were on the Rushy Pen, a good selection of wildfowl were present including Pintail(9), Shoveler, Teal (8), Pochard and Tufted Duck (10-12), and a Peregrine was sat on the Dumbles. Photos JM.

Shorncote update.....

24 November - An early morning visit to Shorncote armed with the camera and, as might be predicted, no sign of the GGS (it was seen again in the afternoon, which seems to be the best time). Two Cetti's warblers and 2 Water Rails calling this morning, also 35 Golden Plovers flew over S (2), a Little Egret over and 150+ Redwings and 70+ Fieldfares (3). The photo may have to wait until the weekend....

GG Shrike Shorncote still....

23 November - Robin Griffiths took this picture of the Great Grey Shrike this afternoon from the hide at Shorncote, I will try for photos tomorrow as forecast is fine....

Great Grey Shrike at Shorncote !

20 November - An excellent hour or so at Shorncote pre-dusk, the highlight being a smart Great Grey Shrike that popped up on the bushes past the hide - seen twice briefly at 3.40 and 4.10 pm - too brief and dull for any sort of photo unfortunately. I will look for it again, as I suspect I may have seen it on 17th Nov when I didn't have any optics with me.
Also seen - a flock of 70+ Golden Plovers flew SW along with 150+ Lapwings - 2 Cetti's Warblers called (one either side of the path) and 2 Water Rails also heard - a Little Egret flew to roost, 20+ Teal, a pair of Wigeon, 70+ Fieldfares, 2 Grey Wagtails, 3 Reed Buntings, Goldfinches and Linnets also seen. No Owls this evening.
At pit 44, a good count of 76 Red-crested Pochard, also a male Goosander.

Record-breaking Wheatear Autumn

19 November - Despite the relative lack of easterly winds this autumn, I've seen my best ever haul of rare Wheatears this year - 2 Isabellines (1) (a British tick), a Pied (2) and today a male Desert Wheatear (3). The only one missing is a Black-eared, of which I've only seen one in Britain. Pic 4 is a Northern Wheatear, taken at Pennington in September. Photos JM.

Southwest....

19 November - A good day in the end, I set off initially to see the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Blagdon, which was reported gone, then headed for the Desert Wheatear near Paignton. The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was then refound at neighbouring Chew Valley Lake later in the morning...
The Desert Wheatear was a smart male and quite confiding around the coastguard buildings at Man Sands, a National Trust valley (Photos 3-6, JM). Also present, a Black Redstart and 10+ Snipe with 20+ Teal on the marshy stream.
A brief stop at Broadsands car park produced a female Cirl Bunting feeding on the seeded area. A male has also been around.
I headed straight back to CVL (7-9) and had excellent views of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in the afternoon sun - noticeably larger than the accompanying Dunlins with rufous crown, buff chest, short decurved bill and scaly upperparts indicating a juvenile. My second ever in the UK. Also at Chew - 2 (!) Long-billed Dowitchers, a Semi-palmated Sandpiper (thought at the time to be a Little Stint) and 3 Bewick's Swans, and a Cetti's Warbler was heard.

Red Kites....

17 - 18 November - A total of 19 Red Kites seen en route to and from London on 2 return trips, including 4 together over Goring gap, with singles scattered along the Thames Valley from Hungerford to Twyford. Photo JM, taken earlier in the year at Goring.

Shorncote

17 Nov - A late afternoon walk at Shorncote in CWP, clear and calm conditions, and a Barn Owl hunting in the twilight from 4.45pm. Also 2+ Water Rails and a distant Cetti's Warbler heard, 50+ Fieldfare and 10+ Redwing over, 5+ Reed Buntings, 5+ Linnets, 10+ Teal in flight, and several Starling flocks over the reedbed totalling 600-800 birds.

This Greater Yellowlegs is at Hauxley (up in Northumberland.....)

13 November - The juvenile Greater Yellowlegs that arrived in Northumberland yesterday. Will it stay for the winter and will I get to see it ?? I did see the Rockcliffe bird in 1994. Photo, copyright Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club website.

Snow Bunting at Farmoor

13 November - Excellent views in the afternoon sun of the male Snow Bunting that has been on the causeway at Farmoor (2-5) for a few days. Fairly flighty, but also fairly confiding when feeding - large white wing patches in flight (6) and a distinctive rippling call. Also seen, a few Meadow Pipits (7) and Great Crested Grebes (8) together with wintering duck. Photos JM.