Shorncote evening

31 March - An evening trip to Shorncote, and no Bittern (has it moved on?) but a nice group of Little Ringed Plovers were displaying, and Lapwings are also nesting. Shelduck, Water Rail, Little Egret and Cetti's Warblers made up the usual supporting cast.

Barn Owls

30 March - A quick look at South Cerney crossroads gave unexpected views of the 2 Barn Owls out hunting in evening sunlight - a good opportunity for close views, though always keeping their distance. Such graceful birds, always exciting and special to see.

Eysey Photos.......

29 March - Photos in the morning haze of of LRP and Green Sandpiper from Eysey today......

Blustery Bank Holiday

28 March - A very windy Easter Monday, a quick look at Eysey revealed some promising wader habitat, 2 Green Sandpipers and a LRP on a quick scan - also 2 Shelduck in flight and a Sand Martin struggling against the wind. At pit 74, apart from the usual duck on the choppy water, a Curlew was tucked in on the edge of the scrape.

Shorncote patch.........

27 March - A showery morning, no sign of the Bittern after a short vigil in the hide, but a highlight was a close flyover by a Peregrine. Also seen 2 LRPs in flight then feeding, displaying Lapwings, a flyby fem Sparrowhawk and a Curlew over - surprisingly, a patch tick ! Quite a few Sand Martins, 40+, feeding in the wind. Cettis's Warblers and Water Rails calling as usual from the reedbeds.

Farmoor extravaganza..... And a Swallow

25 March - A beautiful calm spring morning, with Farmoor looking like a mirror. Excellent close views of the stunning summer-plumaged Red-necked Grebe down to 20m or so (presumably the returning passage bird that's been seen, spring and autumn, for the last several years - where does it winter?) and similar close views of one of the two the Great Northern Divers in the SW corner of F1. Also seen - Dunlin, Redshank and Grey Wagtail, and a daytime Barn Owl from Pinkhill hide. In the afternoon, a lone Swallow flew N over the garden, and a quick check at 74 revealed a Swallow with 50+ Sand Martins.

First LRP returns to CWP........

22 Mar - No further views of the Bittern, despite being armed with the camera, but the first LRP of the year feeding actively. Oystercatcher heard, and 2 flyover Snipe from the hide. Also good views of a Kingfisher preening in the reeds. A fairly late flock of 50+ Redwings, and a lone Fieldfare, around the hedges towards the playing fields.

Finally, a Bittern........

20 Mar - I knew there had to be one here! A brief view of a Bittern dropping onto the reeds in front of the Hayward hide. Wintering bird or passage migrant? Plenty of habitat anyway. It didn't show again for the camera, I'll try again..... Also seen, 2 pairs of Shelduck,a pair of Oystercatchers, 4 Snipe, a flyover Redpoll, and a Green Sandpiper and Green Woodpecker heard, fem Sparrowhawk, in addition to the usual fare.... and of note a flock of 100+ Redwings moving through the hedges, wary as always.

Arctic Finland and Auroras !

14-18 March - A 4-night visit to Nellim in Finnish Lapland, at 69 deg N well above the Arctic Circle - a wintry wilderness, with lakes deep-frozen and plenty of snow lying. The primary reason was the Aurora borealis, which did not disappoint, and gave us a stunning display right across the sky at this latitude, with bright loops turning and dancing in the sky..... the full-on supporting cast of activities included a 20-km husky dog sledge ride, snowmobiling, and a 3 hr walk with snowshoes. The abiding memory is of the silence of the freezing landscape, starkly beautiful with the pine forests illuminated in winter sunlight. The silence of the landscape was enhanced by the paucity of wildlife, apart from the semi-domesticated Reindeer. Birds totalled just 11 species, quality not quantity - including Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, Willow Tit, Pine Grosbeak and Capercaillie. Overall, a truly memorable holiday, ans an awe-inspiring Northern Lights experience.

Misty Shorncote

13 Mar - A nice late winter walk, highlights being 2 Redshanks, an Egyptian Goose (!) and displaying Lapwings, as well as the usual specialties. Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers now singing much more actively.

Exe Estuary foray

6 March - The Exe Estuary cruise that we postponed from Jan due to poor weather, and much better today, with sun and a breeze. An impressive array of waders seen on the rising tide, highlights being Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Knot and of course the wintering Avocets, as well as both Godwits, Grey and Ringed Plovers, Sanderling and Turnstone. Slavonian Grebe was seen in the form of the resident bird, and 2 rarities, firstly a brief flight view of the wintering Bonaparte's Gull, and then the Black Brant with the Dark-bellied Brent flock. All in all an excellent trip. An early start also gave me the bonus of point blank views of Cirl Buntings at the well-known Broadsands car park feeding station in the morning sun - stunning. A Firecrest was also seen here.

Farmoor.......

3 March - An afternoon visit to Farmoor failed to produce the hoped-for Bittern that has been feeding on Pinkhill reserve, but compensation was in the form of close views of the 2 wintering Great Northern Divers, and a daylight Barn Owl. A Rock Pipit was seen briefly on the causeway.