Poole Harbour

30 Nov - A fine sunny day for the "Birds of Poole Harbour" trip to Brands Bay area - the highlight being close scope views of the juvenile Surf Scoter (4) that has been present now for several weeks. Also around the harbour mouth - a Black-throated and 3 Great Northern Divers, numerous Great crested Grebes, 50+ Red-breasted Mergansers and a female Eider. Brands Bay held a good selection of dabbling duck, Wigeon and Teal being the most numerous, and a female Marsh Harrier made several hunting forays along the reed edge, flushing flocks of birds - waders included Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin, Bar- and Black-tailed Godwits and Grey Plover. Up to 10 Little Egrets were seen during the morning. A pair of Dartford Warblers gave good views in the low heather behind the hide. Nearby, Holes Bay at low tide was impressive - 5 Spoonbills (6-9) were feeding in the channels, most if not all being immatures with pinkish bills and black primaries (there are at least 26 birds in the harbour at present) together with c55 Avocet, also good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits (5), Redshank, Dunlin and Curlew. My camera (7D) is in for repairs so the photos were taken with my old 50D - the difference in sharpness is noticeable.

Three special winter visitors.......

29 Nov - A quick visit to Park Corner N of Cirencester, a scan of the bushes and there was the Great Grey Shrike! I just had time for a couple of photos before the bird flew off towards Cirencester Park, photos 1-4 JM. Late afternoon, I stopped at Hawling on the way back from Cheltenham - fairly windy but the ringtail Hen Harrier glided elegantly over the seaside field at 4pm, then when almost dark 2 Short-eared Owls appeared and their distinctive silhouettes could be seen over the ridge. Also seen - 2 Red Kites and a female Sparrowhawk. A good Gloucestershire tally, 3 of my favourite winter birds on the same day..... Earlier, 9 Goosander and a Kingfisher in CWP but no Smew yet......

Back home......

24 Nov - This wary Fieldfare seen at lunchtime has presumably been stripping some of the garden berries while I have been away, surprisingly sharp photos considering they were taken through double glazing!

Ghana 16-23 Nov 2013

Bewick's Swans in the Water Park.....

14 Nov - 5 Bewick's Swans have been in the CWP for a few days in the Eysey area, and this morning at least 3 were viewable distantly, with the local Mute Swans, in stubble S of the R Thames, the other 2 probably still present but obscured by the trees. They could be viewed from the pull in on the slip road off the main A419 at Cricklade. Also good numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings around, and a mixed flock of 50+ Thrushes flew SW over the house this morning.

RNG

10 Nov - Another look at the Red-necked Grebe at Farmoor, as I was passing, not quite so close for the camera this time (1-2) but still showing its yellow bill, dark cap and dusky (shorter) neck compared with its nearby Great-crested cousins.......the Slavonian Grebe also reported still present. 2 Red Kites (3) seen soaring in the blue skies and sunshine. An evening walk at Shorncote in CWP produced 2 Snipe, 5 Water Rails and 2 Cetti's Warblers calling, a male Sparrowhawk hunting, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Ravens and a Little Egret over and a few Redwings, but no sign of the Bittern seen this morning in flight.

Slimbridge rarities

9 Nov - A successful afternoon at Slimbridge with 3 local rarities present - firstly, good views of a Purple Sandpiper (2) on the Rushy pen, usually a strictly coastal species and the 2nd I have seen at Slimbridge. Also on the Rushy Pen, the first few Bewick's Swans of the season (10-11). Next, the (American) drake Green-winged Teal was located with 3000 (!) Eurasian Teal from Zeiss hide - difficult to spot as the only difference is the verticl rather than horizontal white stripe on the flanks - while out on the Dumbles, White-fronted Geese and a single Brent Goose were feeding, and a Peregrine was disturbing the waders- Golden Plover, Lapwings (9) and Curlew. Finally, the Siberian Chiffchaff showed well in the sun around the willows at the decoy (12-14) - a pale bird with very pale underparts and strong head markings. I didn't hear the very distinctive song that led to it being first located a few days previously. Large numbers of winter wildfowl now present, including Teal (5-6), Wigeon, Shoveler (7-8) and Pintail (3-4). Photos JM.

An autumnal CWP

7 Nov - A productive couple of hours in the Water Park on an autumnal morning, with calm bright conditions and a much higher water level after the recent rain (8-9). Autumn/winter is one of the best seasons here, and Shorncote in particular was very busy, with at least 15 Snipe flushed from the flooded field by the path and Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler heard in the reedbeds - also seen - 4 Redpolls, 2 Grey Wagtails (6-7), a fem Blackcap, 50+ Fieldfares (4-5), 5 Redwings and 2 Song Thrushes, 10 Yellowhammers, 5 Reed Buntings, a male Stonechat and a Raven over. Waterhay was quieter, with good numbers of Redwings the main highlight. Small numbers of Shoveler and Teal, with larger numbers of Wigeon, were at pit 74.

and Farmoor part 2.......Red-necked Grebe

2 Nov - The good run at Farmoor continues, a Red-necked Grebe seen this afternoon (1-5) alongside the long-staying Slavonian Grebe (6-7). The Red-necked showing its distinctive dusky cap, shorter rusty neck and yellow bill. The Long-tailed Duck present for several days apparently flew off early this morning. Photos JM.