Catalonian clean sweep 26-27 Feb..........

A 2-day winter trip with Carles Oliver to the Barcelona area, which is surprisingly good and varied for birds. The first day was sunny as expected, and we headed directly to the Montcau mountains. The main quarry was seen straight away - a Wallcreeper on a rockface in the morning sun - amazing views for 5 minutes or so, then it disappeared and we couldn't find it again......photos already taken though. What a start! A flock of 8 Alpine Accentors was also a very good sighting, together with Firecrests and Crested Tits in the pinewoods. The first afternoon was spent at Delta del Llobregat reserve, which is really excellent despite being so close to BCN airport. Highlights here included 2 Spoonbills, 2 Glossy Ibis and 2 drake Garganey, 15 or so Greater Flamingoes, a very showy Moustached Warbler, calling Penduline Tits, and close Snipe, Golden Plover and LRPs. Then off to Ebro Delta for an hour before dark - Slender-billed Gull, Curlew, Greenshank, Ringed Plover and Little Stint on the mudflats, with Black-necked and Slavonian Grebe, and a large distant flock of roosting Mediterranean Gulls. Day 2 brought the 3-hour sea trip booked from Tarragona, and little wind and bright skies meant a nice light. 100s of Mediterranean Gulls were the highlight here (part of the thousands of eastern European birds that spend the winter in the area) with a supporting cast of smart Audouin's Gulls, and very good views of Balearic and Yelkouan Shearwaters. 3 Skuas also seen - Pomarine, Arctic and Great. Rain showers in the afternoon meant we decided on a return trip to the hide at Llobregat, and further excellent photo opportunities, this time Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit. The adult Spoonbill, Ibis and Garganey all appeared to have moved on, but Golden Plovers and dabbling duck were also very obliging. Iberian Green, and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were along the entrance track. Altogether a very successful trip, with over a hundred species seen.

Spring in the air........

23 Feb - A sunny morning with a hint of spring. 3 male and a redhead Smew still on pits 28a / 30 CWP first thing. At Shorncote, singing birds included 6 Reed Buntings, 2 Song Thrushes and a couple of Skylarks, with Chiffchaffs also in song along with the usual Cetti's Warblers. Water Rails much in evidence with 3 seen along the path. Also logged - 2 pairs Bullfinches, 3 Redpolls, Grey Wagtail and Green Woodpecker calling. 3 Buzzards enjoying the thermals mid-morning.

Pendulines revisited.......

19 Feb - A stop at Horsebere pool at Gloucester came up trumps as the Penduline Tits were showing on arrival, in breezy but dry conditions. A few decent shots taken, though the tiny birds could be very unobtrusive despite several pairs of eyes being trained on them.

Short-eared Owl spectacular

18 Feb - A beautiful sunny still late afternoon, and the Blakehill Short-eared Owls emerged an hour before sunset at 4.30. They were mostly fairly distant, but came moderately close at times and allowed some record shots, lovely colouring glowing in the evening sunlight as they twisted and turned elegantly. Also a Barn Owl hunting at the same time for comparison, and earlier a Peregrine eating prey on the ground before it flew off. A very productive visit, success predicated by the weather.

A crisp winter morning........

16 Feb - A still sunny morning with a hint of frost, and I spent some time trying to photograph the Smew currently in the Ashton Keynes section of the Water Park - 3 males and a redhead seen this morning - wary as always, but I managed to stalk a drake with the help of a few trees, and get some reasonable shots. At Waterhay, good numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings, as there were at South Cerney playing fields - flighty as usual though. Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail, Kingfisher and Green Sandpiper also on the list this morning. Proper winter again and invigorating - short-lived, unfortunately.

Barn Owls !

14 Feb - Sunny and crisp this afternoon, and superb views of the 2 hunting Barn Owls at Shorncote which were out well before sunset, and a reasonable photo opportunity. Grey Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail also present, and good numbers of Reed Buntings coming in to roost, 25+.

Forest of Dean foray

12 Feb - At last, a superb sunny fine winter morning that coincided with not being at work - 2 Hawfinches seen briefly in the trees by Parkend Church, and then, after a wait, close views of one feeding on the ground by the cricket pitch - I never thought I'd have such a photo opportunity for Hawfinch! At midday 3 Goshawks displaying from New Fancy View, and flyover Raven, Siskins and Crossbills at various locations, a single Brambling, and Nuthatches and Jays all over. I will have to return for Dipper and Great Grey Shrike - but an excellent morning.

Brambling extravaganza.......

11 Feb - colder sunny weather after an early frost, and excellent Brambling activity on a brief visit to the usual Ridgeway feeding spot - at least 15 birds including some very smart males. More photos to sort through! ........

Coate Water part 2........

9 Feb - A further visit to the hide at Coate, and I got some Jay photos (my main target) as the bird came in briefly for peanuts to the log by hide 2.....also a great Spotted Woodpecker, as well as a flyby Kingfisher, a singing Cetti's Warbler and at least 8 Goosanders on the main lake.

Shorncote

7 Feb - lots of flooding in the Water Park, but Shorncote perfectly accessible......and some nice winter sunshine. I finally got some good views, and photos, of the Siberian Chiffchaff, with Common Chiffchaff for comparison.....very distinctive when seen well. Also the usual species present - 12 Little Egrets, with a flock of 11 Snipe flying over, another singleton seen.....4-5 Water Rails calling, 4 Cettis's Warblers heard, and a small number of Reed Buntings around, up to 8. Good views of a territorial Raven in the sunshine, and small numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings seen. An enjoyable leg stretch.

Local odds and ends

5 Feb - A bit of time locally with the camera, and good timing as the rain arrived about 3pm when I'd finished.....first a return trip to pit 82, and nice close views of the Great Northern Diver as it preened and dived every so often to feed. 7 Common Snipe in the adjacent floods, but no sign this time of the Jack Snipe. The usual pair of Stonechats along the fenceline. In the afternoon, a visit to the hide at Coate, and the Water Rail - my target - popped out twice - no Jays despite my peanuts but they probably fed well in the morning. Also seen - flyby Kingfisher, 4 Goosander, Shoveler and Teal, Long-tailed Tits, a large flock of c50 flyover Siskins, a Grey Wagtail, and a Cetti's Warbler heard.

Smew in the sun......and a Jack Snipe.

2 Feb - A return visit to pit 30 CWP, this time in morning sunshine, and I managed a reasonable record shot of the drake Smew - although it is incredibly wary - even using vegetation as cover. Pit 82 revealed the GND as usual, but the bonus here was a good view of a Jack Snipe as I flushed it from the floods, almost under my feet.....very distinctive prominent stripes, small size, and direct flight and silent, with no call on taking off. 7 Common Snipe also flushed. A pair of Stonechats also feeding in the sun.

Better late than never......Smew arrive in CWP

1 Feb - Smew have finally arrived in CWP, 2 months later than normal - probably due to the extremely mild winter so far. A brief stop at pit 30 gave me distant scope views of 2 drakes - I will return in better weather for a proper look. I was beginning to worry that it would be a blank year for them.......