So that was 2014........

31 Dec -

Smew influx

30 Dec - The recent cold snap produced a nice flock of Smew in the Water Park this morning - 3 very smart drakes and 2 redheads, very flighty, but around pits 29/30. Also a Peregrine S over pit 30. The early hoar frost was stunning but soon melted. Early morning, a female Merlin flew low and fast over the Purton road - the Blakehill bird?

Shorncote and Blakehill in the sun......

28 Dec - A frosty winter day for a walk at Shorncote, good views of winter thrushes - also the usual Water Rails and Cetti's Warblers calling from the reeds edge. Several Chiffchaffs feeding very actively, including the presumed Siberian Chiffchaff, a very pale bird with white underparts and a black bill.....I didn't hear it call though. Also 3 Little Egrets, flocks of Linnets and Skylarks, and a Grey Wagtail. The female Stonechat in its usual spot further along the path, and surprisingly 2 Dunlins on the edge of one of the newer pools. Late afternoon 3 Short-eared Owls were active again at Blakehill, hunting and sparring, but not really close enough for the camera. The car park here absolutely full, something I've not seen before.

Otmoor

26 Dec - A fairly quiet Boxing Day walk at Otmoor in overcast and cold weather, the highlight being flocks of Golden Plover (totalling 190 birds) and flyover Snipe, together with confiding Reed Bunting, Robin, and Great Spotted Woodpecker at the feeders. Winter Thrush flocks present but mobile.

Christmas Bonus at Pittville Park......

25 Dec - An early morning detour on the way to Christmas lunch with relatives produced good views of the male Dartford Warbler at Pittville Park in Cheltenham, with a pair of Stonechats for company. Very mobile, but it popped up obligingly at times.

Christmas Eve Owls........

24 Dec - An early finish at work, and a fine afternoon, so a stop at Blakehill in evening sunshine, and a good show by the SEOs - they were out from 3.20 pm when I arrived, hunting, displaying and sparring - I saw at least 3 birds, but an amazing 6 were counted earlier. Also a male Stonechat, 25+ Meadow Pipits, 50+ Fieldfares and a Peregrine, hunting the Starling flock, and then perched.

Redwings

23 Dec - I never tire of looking at Redwings, they are such stunning birds, and this morning 50+ were feeding in the paddock opposite the house, giving good binocular views, but typically wary until they spooked and flew off into the surrounding bushes.

Garden bonus....... and a quick look at Waterhay

20 Dec - A glance out of the window early morning was fortunate, otherwise I might have missed the brief visit to the feeder by a very active flock of 7 Long-tailed Tits.....a dash for the camera and I got a few record shots......and mid morning, a quick sanity walk at Waterhay, where the flooding is much more extensive than a few days ago. A Peregrine flying S over the reedbed (a male, as quite small) was a bonus - otherwise, the usual Water Rails and Cetti's Warblers calling, and a flock of 100+ mobile winter thrushes.

Cleveland scrapes guided walk at CWP

19 Dec - An excellent guided walk (thanks to Ben Welbourn and Kim Milsom) around the scrapes at pit 74/Cleveland Farm that are normally closed off. A fine day, and birdwise interesting, the highlight being a Jack Snipe flushed amongst a total of 16 Common Snipe - the Jack distinctive being smaller and dumpier, shorter-winged and shorter-billed, with low straight flight and no call on rising. Also seen, 600+ Lapwings (but surprisingly no Golden Plover), good numbers of duck including Pintail, Shoveler and Goldeneye, Jay, Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Cetti's Warblers and Water Rails calling, Stock Dove, a pair of Stonechats and 4 Little Egrets (apparently 15 sucessful nests this year). My first Jack Snipe in the Water Park since the 1990s ! Thankyou to Bob Philpott for finding it.....

Waterhay.........

16 Dec - A fine morning for a quick walk before work....2 Ravens over, and 40+ Fieldfares moving around, otherwise the usual wintering Cetti's and Rails. 6 Bullfinches was a good count.