Slimbridge and Hawling

29 Nov - A beautiful sunny late autumn/early winter day, and a couple of hours at Slimbridge followed by late afternoon Owl watch at Hawling in the Cotswolds. The Tack Piece at Slimbridge held thousands of birds - huge flocks of Golden Plover and Lapwing, mesmerising when they flew in the sunlight, with Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Redshank, and also 7 Ruff and a Little Stint as backup. Wildfowl are in very good numbers for the winter, including an off-track Pink-footed Goose, but the highlight was some of the 55 Bewick's Swans returned from Arctic Russia. Later, the Short-eared Owls at Hawling were out in full daylight, up to 4 being seen of which I saw 2, hunting and also being mobbed by corvids. Superb light as the sun set on a clear sky. Also here a Red Kite and a group of Golden Plovers flew over, along with groups of Fieldfares. Photos JM.