Cotswolds and Quedgeley

28 Jan - Sunshine and showers, and much milder, today. A brief afternoon excursion firstly to Edgeworth, and more nice views of the Bramblings in the Finch flock both on the ground and perched up at the roadside. A few photos in the sunshine using the car as a hide. Also another look at Waxwings - no sun but cooperative birds feeding low down and giving nice views at eye level feeding on hips. Photographers, birders and locals all in attendance.

Study day bonus

27 Jan - A study day in Southampton meant that I could take a quick look at Titchfield Haven before heading home, not far off the M27. And well worth it, the fem Snow Bunting feeding on the beach right by the car park, very confiding, then from the adjacent cliff the Scaup (6) and Long-tailed Duck (1) that are wintering offshore could be seen distantly, even though I had bins and no scope. The 1st-winter Little Gull was also around, looking very tern-like with its small size and buoyant flight, and 3 ghostly-white adult winter Med Gulls flew past fairly close inshore - a productive flying late afternoon visit.

Winter scarcities

26 Jan - A short early morning drive to Over Norton and the feeding station maintained by the farmer here. A cold morning and the mixed finch flock feeding actively - 5 Bramblings among the Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers, but the star performer was the Little Bunting that's been present for a few days. Distinctively smaller with chestnut cheeks and prominent crown stripe, distant record shots only in the poor light. En route home I managed some reasonable photos of the Smew at CWP by stalking them slowly, but they're always on the alert. Smart visitors and always a bit special.

Wintry weather........

23 Jan - The sunny frosty weather continued at the weekend, sparking winter conditions, the highlight for me was the small numbers of Bramblings found by Dave Soons in a setaside N of Daglingworth. Nice views of the birds mixed in with Chaffinches and Linnets, and a few photos possible using the car as a hide. The CWP is largely frozen up at present, good numbers of Goosander and Goldeneye as well as the elusive Smew. Male Goldeneye from twitcher's gate......

Coastal birding

20 Jan - it's difficult to resist going out in such lovely weather, and I won't have time to go far the next few days, so a trip to Hampshire timed for the rising tide, and an excellent selection of waders and other goodies. The Purple Sandpipers at Southsea Castle did a couple of flybys, but did not land - nearby Farlington by the A27 has a wintering flock of Avocets which today numbered exactly 50, and others specialities on a quick scan included Grey and Ringed Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits and hundreds of Brent Geese. I'd never been to Emaworth before, but had read about the Spotted Redshank that has wintered here for at least 8 years and is very confiding - and it was this afternoon, feeding at close range in the stream, with a (colour-ringed) Greenshank for company.

Hayling bridge area and the oyster beds were excellent as usual, with 2 adult winter Med Gulls among the black-headeds, and close views of large numbers of waders including Turnstones, and Red-breasted Mergansers were feeding in the deeper water, accompanied by 2 dumpy Black=necked Grebes. At dusk the large noisy flocks of Brent Geese flying to roost were an impressive spectacle,and a hovering Kingfisher in one of the creeks was a last highlight,.. A very enjoyable and productive afternoon, and door-to-door motorway/dual carriageway makes it a very accessible area, especially on such a beautiful afternoon, with clear low winter sunlight accentuating the magical atmosphere of flocks of birds among the creeks and mudflats. Very therapeutic.

En route mid morning, a quick look at CWP pits 29/30 confirmed the return of the Smew with the onset of the recent cold weather........ a drake and 4 redheads seen, wary as usual, but always special to see.

Misty Forest.......

19 Jan - A cold, dank, misty morning in the Forest of Dean, but conditions good enough for the Hawfinches at Parkend - 4 seen in the treetops, then a female dropped down briefly onto the ground, and fed at close range for 2-3 minutes. Fairly poor light but a few photos possible. Elsewhere I drew a blank on the Great Grey Shrike but a few flyover Crossbills and a small flock of Siskins seen.

The Dorset Lesser Yellowlegs

18 Jan - A superb photo by Ian Ballam of the elegant Lesser Yellowlegs that is wintering at Lytchett Fields, Poole Harbour. I've only seen it much more distantly...........

Odds and Ends

16 Jan - Good views of a Water Rail at Slimbridge at the w/e, from Willow hide - also 3 Knot on South Lake over high tide, along with the usual waders - Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin and Snipe. Impressive views of large flocks of birds in flight, as well as the superb Bewick's Swans - I never tire of them!

Waxwings - one more look

13 Jan - A covering of snow, gone by lunchtime, but I couldn't resist another photo session with the Waxwings in Cheltenham as some sunny intervals forecast. They did not disappoint, and up to 40 birds present giving stunning views, feeding and preening. Somewhat incongruous in the middle of an industrial estate with lorries and heavy traffic all around....... En route home, 4-5 Bramblings present with the mobile Chaffinch flock at Crickley Hill, and some, including 2 smart males, seen feeding on the ground as less disturbance from dog walkers than usual.

Birding Swindon...... Waxwings!

10/11 Jan - On the afternoon of 10th, I was returning to the surgery from a visit when I decided to detour through the railway village to check the berry trees - and I did a double take when amongst the Blackbirds feeding in the trees was an upright bird with a distinctive crest - a Waxwing! in fact two.....I stopped to look (without optics) before putting the news out. Early morning 11th saw me back in the side streets checking the trees, and then the Waxwings appeared and preened in the treetops, now numbering six birds, looking striking in the sun and calling with their distinctive trill. I returned briefly at lunchtime and saw the birds feeding for a short while in the rowan trees, but they are rather flighty. Self-found, and a local twitch!

Glos bonanza

9 Jan - Some good Glos birds over the last few days to start the year. Slimbridge has been frozen but the thaw, and unfrozen fields, led to an influx of the usual waders back into the reserve - Curlew and Ruff alongside the usual Dunlin, Golden Plover and Lapwing - with the Little Stint still on the Rushy Pen.

The Bittern in the end decided to walk across from the reedbed to the canal in front of Kingfisher hide..... unusual sighting in the open....and a Water Rail also forgot that it was supposed to skulk as it fed in front of the hide. Bewick's Swans present in good numbers as usual, and I never tire of them. Peregrine and Marsh Harrier also seen.

Waxwings are fairly widespread at present with a mobile group of 14 in Cirencester, and 30+ in Cheltenham in their preferred UK habitat - an industrial estate :) I'm still trying for the perfect photo.

Waxwings !

5 Jan - Waxwings are currently moving south, and have been seen in Cheltenham and Highworth...... finally yesterday in Cirencester. I checked the Forum car park around 9am on a beautiful sunny morning, and spotted one perched up in a tree with Redwings. They were flighty but occasionally dropping onto the bushes by the police station. Eventually 5 were perched together, distinctive in the sunshine with their crests, and attracting curious glances from a few shoppers. I got a few photos but difficult to get unobscured views of the treetops. A spectacular sight.

Short-eared Owls........

3 Jan - Having bins and camera in the car proved a good move, as the forecast was correct and during my admin time I nipped up to Liddington Hill, less than 10 minutes from work, and the Short-eared Owls emerged in good late afternoon sun, from 3.15pm onwards - fairly mobile and distant at times, but good views, including perched briefly. Always exciting to see, so graceful and silent in flight. Also around 30 Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers and winter thrushes present prior to roosting.

2017.......a New Year..........

2 Jan - A bit of time in the Water Park both on the damp 1st and sunny 2nd, gave me over 60 species to start off the year. Highlight was a sunny winters morning at Shorncote, with sparkling frost on the vegetation and lots of bird activity - Water Rails, Cetti's Warblers and Little Egrets all in evidence, as well as the pair of Stonechats in the usual spot and many Redwings in the area. A flock of over 30 Snipe in flight was the largest I've ever seen at CWP, and a Green Sandpiper was also present. Other odds and ends for the 2017 list included 2 Sparrowhawks, a pair of Goosander and 2 RAvens, as well as the usual duck including Red-crested Pochard.