12-23 Dec (2) -

12-23 Dec -

Great Barrington raptors

10 Dec - A successful hours break from packing for Uganda, a sunny afternoon on the Cotswolds at Great Barrington, and excellent close views in the sun of 5 Short-eared Owls hunting (1-3), also a distant ringtail Hen Harrier and 6 Red Kites in the area (4-5). Photos JM.

Temminck's Stint at Shorncote

9 Dec - The Temminck's Stint still at Shorncote from the hide, also a Kingfisher, 2 Water Rails including one in the open (2-3), a Cetti's Warbler singing, 7 Snipe, and 300+ Golden Plover (4) with 200+ Lapwing over.

Long-staying Greater Yellowlegs....

3 Dec - After several weeks, an opportunity to go to see the long-staying juvenile/ 1st-winter Greater Yellowlegs in Northumberland that has been present since early November. It has been fairly mobile, and I and half-a-dozen others could not find it early morning at Hauxley where it has been roosting recently. We then moved on to Druridge Bay CP, where, fortunately, it was feeding in the same place as yesterday. Excellent close views of it at the eastern end of the lake (3-6) feeding in rough water and windy conditions - slightly larger than a Greenshank, with long bright yellow legs, upturned bill and scaly upperparts with some fine flank streaking. A very smart wader, and seen very well, worth the long journey.
Also seen - flocks of Pink-footed Geese (2) moving inland to feed, especially at first light - and Redshanks, Knot, Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwits at Hauxley with a Barn Owl there at dawn. A Red Kite was over the A1 north of York. Photos JM.

Shorncote....

2 Dec - A brief view of the Great Grey Shrike perched distantly at Shorncote late morning, but still no photo. A variety of birds seen, including 450+ Golden Plover (1-2) and 800+ Lapwing (3) wheeling in large flocks, 2 Little Egrets (5), 2 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper (4), 6+ Buzzards, a fem Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, a Green Woodpecker, at least 2 Water Rail heard calling,50+ Goldfinches, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Siskins over, together with Fieldfares and Redwings.