Flooded Shorncote....

29 Dec - A fine sunny afternoon after the recent rains, Shorncote flooded with the path under 9" of water, but very productive birdwise - large numbers of Teal seen in flight (7-8), at least 5 Water Rails, 2 Green Sandpipers in flight, 4 Little Egrets with 7 Grey Herons in a flooded ditch, a Raven over to roost, 2 Cetti's Warblers including one that posed just long enough for a bad record shot (10), a Grey Wagtail, flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares, Reed Buntings, at least 20 Meadow Pipits and 2-3 Chiffchaffs. My first sighting of the Barn Owl in months (11-14), when it emerged just after 4pm in the twilight. Photos JM.

Waterhay sunset

27 Dec - A wintry sunset at 3.45 this afternoon over the floods on the Thames at Waterhay in CWP.....

Thames Xmas floods......

27 Dec - A lot of water along the Upper Thames floodplain at the moment, including North Meadow at Cricklade, which is normally ancient meadows grazed by cattle, rather than a lake....

High Arctic Visitor.....number 2......

26 Dec - An unexpected Boxing Day as I wasn't expecting to be birding - but plans rapidly changed mid-morning when news of a Brunnich's Guillemot at Portland coincided with a beautiful fine day, with my Boxing Day meal out not being until 6pm.....so a trip down to the coast resulted in very good views of this extremely rare visitor to the UK (usually, if anywhere, to Shetland....) and this Arctic auk species was eventually very obliging. eventually giving a point blank photo opportunity (3-5), with its distinctive stubby profile, and shorter, the blunter bill compared with Common Guillemot showing a white gape line. An amazing record for the south of England, presumably resulting from the very stormy weather of recent weeks. A surprising number of people turmed up during the afternoon considering it was a Christmas bank holiday with family commitments planned for most. The harbour also contained a very obliging close Great Northern Diver (12-14) with 2 other distant birds, together with a 1st-winter Black Guillemot, similarly storm-driven, and a few Razorbills and Guillemots. Firstly Ferrybridge (6-7) - with 11 adult Mediterranean Gulls and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose - then Radipole, with a Glossy Ibis and 2 further Med Gulls (8-11) - provided an excellent supporting cast. Photos JM. Home in time for Boxing Day evening!

Ivory pics

24 Dec - These fantastically sharp photos of the celebrity Ivory Gull are by (copyright) Jonathan Lethbridge, the Wanstead Birder.....superb.

Closer to home....

22 Dec - The shortest day, and these 2 were taking advantage of the garden feeders first thing this morning despite the mild weather......Great Tit and Blue Tit, photos JM.

High Arctic visitor.......

20 Dec - A day that went absolutely according to plan, a 4.30 start saw me watching the juvenile Ivory Gull at Patrington on the Humber as the sun rose - then home by 2pm to get the rest of the day done! the gleaming white bird performed well in the early morning light, a large bulky Gull but with surprisingly elegant flight, all white with a few fine black markings on primaries and tail - it then dropped in at close range to feed on discarded fish, but is really much more attractive when in the air. A high Arctic species, normally found around the pack ice, several juveniles have been displaced to the UK by the recent storms, but this bird is the only one that has lingered in an accessible location. Only my second in the UK, my previous sighting being the juvenile at Southwold at the time of the millennium in 1999. Photos JM, slightly grainy due to early morning light. A true polar bird and a charismatic species - I would say one of my best birds of the year - top spot going to the Bridled Tern on the Farnes.

Once Bittern, twice shy....

15 Dec - An early morning walk at Shorncote always produces a few birds, and this morning was no exception - 11 Snipe flushed by the path (4-5), 2 Little Egrets, Cetti's Warblers and Water Rails calling, Reed Buntings and Grey Wagtails seen, Fieldfares and Redwings, and 100s of Lapwings in flight (6).....I walked back along the path thinking I'd love to see the Bittern that has been present for a few weeks, then suddenly not one but two Bitterns (!), with their distinctive stripey brown Heron-like profile, flew low over the reedbed (7) and dropped on the far side, with one circling low, and I watched it land in the reeds. Exciting to think that possibly two birds will winter in the extensive reedbed here. Photos 1-6 JM, Bittern in flight painting courtesy RSPB. The 2 redhead Smew still on pit 30, with 4 Goosanders also seen. A very productive hour, before the rain started, with atmospheric winter skies.