2 Jan - Another morning's New Year birding. Two Bewick's Swans were on the Wiltshire side of the River Thames at Lechlade early morning. A very smart Lesser Yellowlegs was at Burnham on the Brue Estuary (1, copyright James Packer), with other waders including Redshank, Oystercatcher, Grey and Golden Plover, Dunlin, Lapwing and Curlew.
At Slimbridge, I eventually had a distant view of the female Lesser Scaup that has returned for a second winter, together with the usual winter species including Bewick's Swan, White-fronted Goose, Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff, together with large numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover (2). A female Merlin was seen, and 5 Buzzards (3) but no sign of the usual Peregrine and the Bittern was elusive with a full hide and windy conditions. Photos - Teal (4) Shelduck (5) Pintail (6) JM.
Finally, at dusk a Short-eared Owl was seen briefly under stormy skies at Hawling (7), and 2 Red Kites were over the A436 there.
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