Blashford Lakes...........

30 Jan - The feeders at Blashford are truly outstanding, especially in the sun today - ranks of Siskins with Redpoll, Brambling, and Reed Bunting together with Nuthatches, Jay and Coal Tit. The Bittern was a no show this afternoon, but a bonus Great White Egret compensated. The gull roost on Ibsley Water contained the adult Ring-billed Gull and a 3rd year Caspian Gull.

Brambling fest continues!

28 Jan - Another short visit to Barbury this afternoon, and good views of the Bramblings again in bright weather. I'm making the most of these wintering birds being so available for the camera. Also Yellowhammers keeping mainly to the fencelines, but no Tree Sparrows this afternoon.

GND still present

25 Jan - close views of the Diver on pit 82 today, more choppy in the westerly wind and brewing wet and windy weather. More photos........

More looks at the Diver

23 Jan - distant views of the GND - seen wing-flapping and feeding very actively, lake now fully thawed after the recent freeze-up.

CWP sunshine

22 Jan - A sunny slightly milder afternoon - another good Barn Owl show from 4pm, otherwise fairly quiet, a nice male Stonechat seen and all the usual specialties - Siberian Chiffchaff also seen again, and lots of common Chiffchaffs. Ice now all gone.

Brambling show

21 Jan - Very good views of the Bramblings at Barbury today, probably due to the cold weather - up to 15 birds present and feeding actively and perching up for the camera.....some nicely-marked males included.

Great Northern Diver at Waterhay

20 Jan - An excellent find by Malcolm Royal - a superb Great Northern Diver - on pit 82. A beautiful deep-frozen winter day, -7 at dawn - watched fishing in low winter sunlight, at close quarters as the lake mostly frozen. Fantastic.

Proper winter !

19 Jan - A beautiful frozen winter morning, and amazing numbers of birds busy feeding in the sunlight after a cold night. At least 35 Reed Buntings seen, also Siberian and Common Chiffchaffs, and a view of a Cetti's Warbler. 3 Stonchats looking surprised as they slipped on the ice, and lovely views of a Green Woodpecker feeding on the ground. Lots of Water Rails calling, but not forced into the open so far. So nice to have some invigorating seasonal cold and sun, after the cloud and wet.

Brambling photo opportunity........

16 Jan - A beautiful sunny morning with an early frost. A visit to Barbury Castle again, and good views of several Bramblings with at least 2 different males (one with a much darker head than the other). Also 1-2 Tree Sparrows, 3 Corn Buntings, 15+ Yellowhammers and a pair of Reed Buntings. I'm trying to make the most of the exceptional Brambling photo opportunities this winter........

Barn Owl show..........

15 Jan - Wonderful views of 2 Barn Owls in afternoon sunlight at Shorncote, with one catching a vole and eating it on the ground. Also the usual suite of birds.......Water Rail, Little Egret, Grey Wagtail and Cetti's Warbler. Good numbers, up to 30, of Reed Buntings roosting. 1-2 Siberian Chiffchaffs seen well alongside 6 Common Chiffchaffs. Kingfisher, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker also obliged but no Bittern at dusk, although the reedbed looks perfect for them......

An old-fashioned twitch in.......Glos

12 Jan - First reported yesterday and the first twitchable birds Penduline Tits for Glos.......so at first light at Horsebere I was scanning the reeds along with a few others, and after a short wait good views of both birds were had, feeding on the bullrush heads in the early morning sun. Superb looks at these smart and charismatic little birds. My photos subsequently made Points West!

Slimbridge in the sun.........

8 Jan - A sunny January morning and a visit for the winter spectacle at Slimbridge. The highlight was 2 Whooper Swans, newly arrived on the Rushy Pen, that were promptly seen off by the resident Mutes. Good views of Bewick's Swans feeding - lovely birds close up - also the Tack Piece a very impressive sight thousands of Lapwings and Golden Plovers glinting in the sun especially in flight in compact flocks - amongst them Curlews, a Ruff, a Little Stint and Redshanks - and 2 Peregrines on the estuary edge. Also amazing colourful views of dabbling duck in close up from the hides. Winter really is the best time of year to visit WWT.

Flooded Shorncote

5 Jan - Very flooded at Shorncote along the path and around the hide, but good views of all the usual species, including Little Egrets, and Water Rails and Cettis' Warblers heard. Also nice close views of a pair Stonechats feeding in the sun. 7 Snipe on the flooded field, and a Grey Wagtail feeding. And a bonus of a flock of Golden Plover in flight. A nice start to the year on the patch.

Ridgeway at Barbury revisited.........

4 Jan - A pre-work hour at Barbury along the Ridgeway, and good views again of the Bramblings coming in for seed, along with Yellowhammers and Greenfinches/Chaffinches. Still trying for a good shot of a Brambling in the open.......also a Raven flew over.

First CWP foray of 2016

Jan 2 - a walk at a very flooded Waterhay, the water almost overtopping the Wellingtons once or twice. Good numbers of birds present, with lots of Fieldfares and Redwings in the bushes - Water Rails heard - Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff and Grey Wagtail also - Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Goldcrest also seen amongst others. 6 Goosander (5 males) at pits 30/44. No Smew on a quick look - still very mild for the time of year.

New Year's Day - a brief foray to Langstone Harbour

Jan 1 - A short morning walk at Farlington Marshes/Hayling, Langstone Harbour, as dictated by the timetable of the day and my nasty virus - a total of 61 species logged in rather more windy and cloudy conditions than expected....the usual variety of waders and waterbirds seen, including 30 Avocet, Black- and Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover and Greenshank as well as 100s of Brent Geese, many duck including good numbers of Pintail and Mergansers, and odds and ends including a winter-plumaged Med Gull and a Black-necked Grebe. Rather fewer passerines than I would have had on my usual look round CWP in winter. The highlight of the day was a close flyby by a female Merlin.