Stow-on-the-Wold surprises

31 Dec - One of the most unexpected finds of 2016 must be the male Blue Rock Thrush currently residing in the Cotswolds at Stow. I joined the crowds and had reasonable views of the bird, although the dull weather did not show off the blue plumage. I think the bird is probably wild, as it is unringed, and many other eastern vagrants have made it to our shores this autumn in the exceptional run of easterly winds. The urban habitat is not out of character as the species winters in villages in southern Europe. I've seen quite a few in Spain, but nice to see one in the UK! Also present in Stow were 2 mobile Waxwings, one of which settled in a rowan tree for a few minutes and allowed good views, a real bonus. The last birds of 2016! A very good 12 months, with amazing trips to the Hebrides and the Galapagos Islands during the year, and outstanding experiences and memories. Let's see what 2017 brings.......

Exe Estuary cruise

29 Dec - Fortunately the fog lingering over the Exe estuary cleared shortly before our afternoon boat trip, so we had good, albeit fairly distant views of the usual waders as the tide rose - Bar-and Black-tailed Godwits, Sanderling, Knot, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank as well as Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin and Oystercatcher as well as a couple of hundred Avocets. Also present were 2 Slavonian Grebes (the long-staying individual with a damaged wing has acquired a friend!) and a distant fem Long-tailed Duck at Topsham, as well as smart Red-breasted Mergansers and over a hundred Pintail. An atmospheric cruise in the low winter sunlight, combined with a nice overnight stay at Otterton, made a short but worthwhile Christmas getaway.

Shorncote

27 Dec - A fine day for a last look at Shorncote during 2016, nothing exceptional but always enjoyable and it's a spot which always feels as if something unexpected is going to turn up..... I've been thinking of the unusual species I've self-found here in the last few years and this is a list...... Bittern, Scaup, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Avocet, Short-eared Owl, Waxwing, Great Grey Shrike, Firecrest, Siberian Chiffchaff, Bearded Tit. I've also seen Garganey and Temminck's Stint here as well. Not bad for a few acres in the south Midlands!

Boxing Day

26 Dec - A family walk at Crickley Hill mid morning in calm sunny weather had the bonus of a single Brambling with the Chaffinches under the beech trees, with c150 Golden Plover in flight alongside the A417 en route. Late afternoon at Blakehill, Merlin perched and in dashing flight, then Short-eared and Barn Owls, all appeared after sunset. A productive hour.

One more Eastern vagrant........

24 Dec - Another eastern vagrant fitted in.......Good views of the 1st-winter Blyth's Pipit at Blagdon, once Christmas Eve access arranged. Hardly any traffic.......feeding with Meadow Pipits on the shoreline. Larger size, sandy coloration, but relatively shorter bill and tail, and more obvious wing bars. My second in the UK. Also a Peregrine over the lake, and 2 Great White Egrets with 3 Little Egrets, and another GWE seen from the road passing CVL. Surely the last rarity of the year?!

Not-so skulking Dusky

22 Dec - An early morning trip to Coombe Hill Meadows, and surprisingly good views of the Dusky Warbler found there 2 days previously, fairly active and calling regularly in the grasses next to the canal. I managed a few decent photos as it popped up briefly. Good thing I was early, as it flew off across the canal and wasn't relocated the rest of the day. Interestingly, the bird was carrying a ring on the R leg, possibly one of this year's influx of autumn vagrants logged on the east coast ? Also a good look at a Water Rail as it ran along the edge of the canal bank, and lots of winter Thrushes moving around noisily on the morning sun. Probably the last Asian vagrant of the year!

Scaup at CWP..........

16 Dec - A dry, mild day with some sunny intervals. A scan of pit 29 gave views of the female Scaup still present......distinctive rounded head shape compared with the accompanying Tufted Ducks, combined with fairly extensive white at the base of the bill. Several pairs of Goosander seen around the park, with Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the bushes.

A (half) mega in Glos..............

11 Dec - News of an Eastern Black Redstart on, of all places, Tewkesbury Abbey - the eastern subspecies of Black Redstart, and the first inland record for the UK, being presumably the bird seen a few days before a couple of miles away in Worcs. A very striking and smart bird, feeding actively in afternoon sun. Also, 2+ Bramblings with the Chaffinches in the beechwoods at Crickley Hill.

Dusky Thrush

8 Dec - One of the best birds of the year, a 1st winter Dusky Thrush from Siberia, was identified as wintering in the Midlands village of Beeley via a photo from a birder's back garden posted online. I was free to join the crowds after a few days, with the bird still present and settled into a routine centred on the orchard at Dukes Barn in the village. Arriving soon after dawn and the forecast rain, I had brief views of the bird in an apple tree in poor light, and it then disappeared for a while. Later in the morning it returned to the orchard and adjoining conifers, to feed, rest and preen, and it gave very good views, especially when the sun briefly appeared. A distinctive Thrush, more stocky than the accompanying Redwings, an obvious chestnut wing patch, broad white supercilium, and black-spotted white breast making it a striking eastern vagrant, presumably another result of the prolonged winds from Siberia during the autumn. Dukes Barn was amazingly welcoming, with refreshments (and facilities) all available..... a great finale to the birding year.

Weekend

3-4 Dec - A drake Smew at CWP 28a, an early arrival this year after the cold weather. Shorncote late afternoon and 2 pairs of Stonechats feeding in the sun, with good numbers if Redwings and Fieldfares moving, along with Cetti's Warblers and Water Rails calling. Sun at Slimbridge and brief views of a Bittern in the reeds from Kingfisher hide, amazingly camouflaged. Snipe and Water Rail were more visible than usual, forced into the open by the freeze up. Bewick's Swans were calling and displaying in the sun on Rushy Pen, but the Tack Piece fairly quiet in the frost although a Peregrine still did a flyby. Late afternoon 4 more Bewick's Swans..... this time brief visitors to Coate Water. Sparkling wintry conditions, but not supposed to last much longer.....