CWP early morning.....and time for reflection

25 Jan - A fairly productive early morning couple of hours, water levels have dropped slightly and a breezy but dry morning with the clouds breaking. The drake and 2 redhead Smew still in the pit 29/30 area, today on pit 29 (2,3), with a pair of Goosander (1) on adjacent pit 28 and another drake on pit 44 with 54 Red-crested Pochard. Shorncote finally gave good but brief views of the Siberian Chiffchaff, showing the contrasting greyish mantle and greenish wing feathers, with 2 rather more obliging Common Chiffchaffs (12)and lots of Wrens (11) for comparison. Also here - the usual Cetti's warbler singing, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Ravens (8) flew over, 3 Water Rails, Teal (9,10), Gsdwall and Tufted Duck on the pools, and an impressive total of 15 Little Egrets (6,7) on the floods. 180+ Lapwing flew over, and a nice mixed flock of Fieldfares, Redwings and Yellowhammers were around the farm. Photos JM. Time to think while walking about the love of nature passed on to me by two very influential people in my life, my mother, and also my grandmother, who sadly passed away very peacefully 2 days ago at the great age of 100. She was a wonderful support to me through my formative years, and was above all a very kind person who saw the best in everyone and had a positive outlook. I will miss her, but I will carry her and others in my heart.

Still very wet....

19 Jan - Sunny today, water levels still very high around the Upper Thames, with Waterhay CP inundated. A quick look at pit 74 revealed huge numbers of Wigeon and Teal, with 61 Shoveler and 8 Pintail (5m, 3f) amongst them.

CWP

18 Jan - An early morning look at the Water Park, and the pair of Smew back on pit 30, with a Goosander there and 8 Goosander (6m, 2f) on pit 44 (1,2). At Shorncote, at least 1 Siberian Chiffchaff with 2-3 collybita Chiffchaffs in the hedge by the stream- the Siberian with notably whitish underparts (10-12), and also heard calling. Also here the usual Cetti's Warbler singing, 2-3 Water Rails, 2 Little Egrets and a Grey Wagtail, and on nearby South Cerney playing fields, 250+ Fieldfare (5,6) and Redwings (7) with 3 Mistle Thrushes (3,4). photos JM.

Savernake Bramblings

17 Jan - An afternoon visit to Savernake where the weather was more showery than forecast - but after an hour or so of searching, a mixed flock of finches flew in over my head as I was about to leave, and 20+ Bramblings were mixed in with the 40+ Chaffinches. Bramblings are another of my favourite winter visitors, and I've yet to get a really good photo of one. Today they could be identified within the flock by their distictive nasal call, and when perched the white belly is surprisingly conspicuous, as well as the orange shoulders, yellow bill and white rump in flight - also of course, the dark head of the male. I'm fairly happy with the record shots considering the birds were in the canopy of some fairly large beech trees. Also seen - Red Kite, Buzzard, GS Woodpecker, Marsh Tit, at least 10 Coal Tits, Nuthatch and Bullfinch. Photos JM.

Forest of Dean morning

12 Jan - A couple of hours early morning, but even so the frosty start turned cloudy and breezy sooner than forecast.....the highlight was up to 10 Hawfinches in Parkend, in the Limes and Yews by the cricket pitch. Wary as usual but perching up in full view (2-4). 10+ Bramblings were with the Chaffinches at Serridge ridge, but were very flighty and no photos possible in the dull light - 10 Crossbills (1) were also feeding here, also 30+ Siskins in the alders - and another 30+ Crossbills flew over near Cannop Stoneworks. Photos JM.

Floods, sunset and Owls

11 Jan - Extensive flooding still on the R Thames at North Meadow, Cricklade, impressive in the sun today (1-2). Late afternoon at Hawling gave a dramatic winter sunset (3-6) and good views of a hunting Barn Owl,and brief views of a silhouetted perched Short-eared Owl when almost dark. Also there - 2 Red Kites, a male Sparrowhawk, 8 Corn Buntings and 6 Yellowhammers.