Shorncote at dusk

29 Jan - A quick visit to Shorncote before dark, the usual Water Rails calling (3+), a Little Egret feeding in the ditch, a Grey Wagtail flew over, and duck numbers included 80+ Wigeon, 30+ Teal, 20+ Tufted Duck and 15+ Pochard. A flock of 15+ Linnets was in the reedbed and a few Reed Buntings went to roost and 25-30 Fieldfares were around. No sign of the Bittern reported in flight recently, or of any Barn Owls.
En route, the Smew still on pit 62, a smart drake and 2 redheads seen - there have been up to 5 birds here for over a month.

South Coast

28 Jan - A brief morning visit to the coast en route to a family visit, firstly I at last saw the Purple Sandpipers (2-5) at Southsea, on the rocks below the Castle at low tide, surprisingly difficult to pick up against the rocks, at least 4 birds present. Then very good views of the Shorelark at Hayling oyster beds - and finally another opportunity for Med Gull photos (10-13), as well as a Common Gull (9), at Church Norton. Also seen - 2 Black-necked Grebes at Hayling, and excellent views of a Slavonian Grebe at Church Norton. The usual waders present included Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher (8), Turnstone, Dunlin and Grey Plover. 8 Little Egrets in total seen during the morning. Photos JM.

No Diver, but plenty of Owls

27 Jan - The organised trip near Lechlade to see the Great Northern Diver went well....apart from the fact that the Diver decided to leave the night before, having been around for several weeks. 12 Goldeneye and 71 Shoveler seen.
On the way home, a quick stop at Coleshill gave good views of 3 Short-eared Owls and 2 Barn Owls, including one right by the road.

Temminck's Stint in Oxfordshire

21 Jan - Distant views late morning of the Temminck's Stint at Rushey Common near Stanton Harcourt, a tiny bird, elusive amongst the vegetation on the small islands on the main lake. Typical crouching posture, the sandy brown colouration, breast band and yellow legs visible at times. Photo taken today, copyright Oxonbirdblog. A total of 3 Red Kites seen en route to and from Rushey Common.
In the evening, my first Barn Owl of the year flew over the road 1/2m from home.

Farmoor - Grey Phalarope and GN Diver

20 Jan - A quick afternoon visit to Farmoor after work, and the Grey Phalarope still feeding close to the bank on F2 (photos 1-3, JM). The Great Northern Diver was still present towards the centre of F2 (photo, copyright Wayne Bull). A Red Kite seen over Cumnor village.

Shorncote sunset

15 Jan - A wintry sunset at Shorncote, the usual species seen - 2 Water Rails, with 3 more heard, and a Cetti's Warbler calling. Teal and Wigeon in reasonable numbers, Lapwings around and a single Snipe flew over. A Grey Wagtail was present. I stayed til dusk but no sign of the Barn Owl.

Hen Harriers.....

15 Jan - A brief stop along the Coleshill - Buscot road at lunchtime gave excellent views of the 2 ringtail Hen Harriers (1-3, JM) - hunting low over the fields, and several times landing to eat prey on the ground. Very obliging birds, more or less continually on view for half an hour. Buzzard and Kestrel also seen.

Slimbridge.....Bittern and Peregrine

14 Jan - A short visit to Slimbridge after work finally gave me views of the Bittern from the Zeiss Hide (at the 3rd attempt) despite the hide being crowded and noisy on a Saturday. I managed some photos (2-4), but the bird was still partially obscured. A Peregrine was perched up in the oak trees at the back of the Tack Piece, and the Rushy Pen held the usual wild birds at close quarters - Bewick's Swans (5,6), Teal (7,8), Pintail (9), Gadwall, Pochard (10) and Tufted Duck. The female Lesser Scaup is still present but I couldn't locate it on a brief scan. Photos JM.

More SEOs

13 Jan - A brief look for the Bittern at Coate early morning was unsuccessful, but it was seen later....I saw a Kingfisher and 9 Goosanders, and heard Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Mistle Thrush singing. A Peregrine flew over the A419 at Commonhead mid-morning.
Late afternoon, a quck drive out to Coleshill produced distant 'scope views of 2 Short-eared Owls that appeared at 4.10pm (photo taken at Great Barrington in Dec). The ringtail Hen Harriers had been seen earlier, but had probably gone to roost by the time I arrived.

Bittern at Coate Water.....

8 Jan - Excellent views early morning of the Bittern (1) at Coate Water - feeding and moving around the reed edge, the stripey plumage amazingly cryptic at times. A Marsh Tit, Nuthatch and Green Woodpecker also seen at Coate. Later, a Red Kite (2) flew over near Coleshill. Photo JM.

South Coast

7 Jan - A morning on the south coast en route to visiting relatives. High tide at Hayling and there was a large wader roost in the harbour - Grey Plovers, Dunlin (10), Ringed Plovers, Turnstones (8,9), Curlew (11), Redshank (12) and Bar-tailed Godwits. Red-breasted Mergansers (7) and 2 Black-necked Grebes were on the oysterbeds. At Church Norton, at least 4 Mediterranean Gulls (4,15) were offshore, along with a distant Slavonian Grebe and a flyby Red-throated Diver. Knot were in the harbour and a Kingfisher was hovering, Common Gulls (14) and Great-Black-backed Gulls were present. At Langstone Harbour on the falling tide, 27 Avocets were in the channels. A total of 5 Little Egrets (13) seen. Hundreds of Brent Geese (2,5,6) were moving around in noisy flocks.