Shrikes and Owls ........

26 Feb - On two short visits over the weekend, nice views of a wintering Great Grey Shrike in the Cotswolds, and, on the second time of asking, brief views of several Short-eared Owls hunting in reasonable light over the setaside. Always an exciting bird to see, especially in late afternoon sun as they float on slow wingbeats. Also flyover Red Kite and Sparrowhawk.

Slimbridge

24 Feb - A quick stop at Slimbridge, where the Water Rails continue to show very well from Willow hide especially in the cold weather. The Bewick's Swans are starting to display, but will probably stay put while the current cold weather and easterly winds continue. Also the usual impressive mass of waders on the floods and Tack Piece, regularly flushed or spooked by raptors. The views of the wildfowl in full breeding plumage are also exceptional at present.

Arctic wanderer..........

22 Feb - One of the most charismatic and sought after Arctic birds was sighted in Dorset yesterday ........ an adult Ross's Gull, a diminutive, elegant Gull that breeds in remote high Arctic regions, winters along the pack ice, and is only a rare wanderer further south. I joined the expectant watchers on the south coast, having seen a flyby 2nd-year Glaucous Gull but missed the star bird on its first brief appearance - then after a wait of a couple of hours it dropped in again at Lodmoor to bathe and preen on the pools alongside its larger cousins. It's not very often that Mediterranean Gulls are outshone for me, as it's one of my favourite birds, but the Ross's was dwarfed by the other species as it swam, preened on the mud and gave several flight views - a striking white gull with a wedge-shaped tail, white primaries and a slight pink wash on the underparts, and a striking dove-like face with tiny bill. Excellent views of this elusive Arctic wanderer. Even the Spoonbill present wasn't given much attention in the excitement.

Slimbridge....... first time for a while!

12 Feb - A couple of hours at Slimbridge at the w/e - the Bewick's Swans will be leaving soon and are starting to display to each other. Wildfowl in general are in smart breeding plumage at present. Water Rails showing very well at the Willow hide, seemingly not aware that the field guides describe them as skulking! Avocets back on South Lake plus large numbers of waders on the Tack Piece floods ......... the usual impressive winter spectacle.........

Blashford afternoon

9 Feb - An afternoon trip to Blashford HWT near Fordingbridge - firstly the woodland hide, where after a wait the Bramblings showed up to feed - 5 bird, including 3 smart males. They are fairly confiding here, but as with Bramblings generally are reluctant to sit out in the open. Still much better views than in the average stubble field! Also Siskin, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker present along with some very showy Long-tailed Tits. Then across to Tern hide overlooking the gull roost on Ibsley Water, and within 5 minutes of my arriving in the (very busy) hide the juvenile Thayer's Gull was picked out - a large gull, very pale primaries, rounded head profile, medium tail. A high arctic Canadian species, currently considered a subspecies of Iceland Gull, but this may change. Also present - Caspian (2nd yr) Yellow-legged and Med Gulls. A successful afternoon !

Snowy Owls!

3 Feb - I've just returned from a fantastic week in Quebec with a photography group, the primary object being the large influx of Snowy Owls this winter. Due to an excellent breeding season, there are a large number of 1st-year Snowies wintering in the northern USA and Canada - this species is generally fairly approachable as it breeds in the high Arctic and is unused to human company. It is a particularly charismatic species with its large size, white plumage and cat-like hypnotic gaze, as well as its aura of inaccessibility and being a very sought-after species due to its rarity. Unfortunately the world population is thought to be declining. The Quebec weather was typical of this time of year - a mixture of blue skies and sparkling snow interspersed with snow fall. The temperatures ranged from + 6 on the warmest day to - 17 on the coldest night with an additional windchill taking it to -27. Layers definitely required and I made the mistake of taking my gloves off for a few minutes and the seriously numb fingers took several hours to recover. The Owls themselves were photogenic in a variety of locations - snowy fields and trees, also telegraph poles and hay bales - anything that made a good vantage point. Fortunately one of the Owls has learnt to come to a supply of dead mice so afforded particularly good photo opportunities. Bald Eagles were also, around particularly the frozen shores of Lake Ontario and a conifer plantation here held a superb little roosting Saw-Whet Owl - very hard to find in the dense branches but nevertheless found by our amazing guide Chris Dodds. Woodland birds are thin on the ground in the winter in northern Canada due to the severity of the weather, but we saw some species around feeders both in Montreal and on the lakeshore. Colourful American Robins were particularly conspicuous in a roving flock, wary as Thrushes always are, Chickadees and Nuthatches were also very active and rather fearless. All in all an amazing experience, the Canadians take severe winter weather in their stride and life functions as normal. And they are very friendly. And the currency features the Queen's head !