Cotswolds and CWP

30 Dec - The seemingly endless low cloud and murk of the last few days cleared to stunning low winter sunshine, too nice to be indoors ........an afternoon trip to the Cotswolds, very good numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings en route. Up to 6 Short-eared Owls seen hunting in the afternoon sun, with some quite close views at times, birds also seen perched. Always charismatic birds to watch (and photograph), I never tire of them. A quick stop off at CWP in the morning produced a flock of 9 Pintail at Eysey alongside good numbers of Teal, and ones and twos of Goosander on various pits. No Smew yet though, it's not been cold enough.

Farmoor Grebes

28 Dec - Farmoor reservoir has an excellent track record when it comes to rare Grebes, and I’ve seen the five regular Grebe species there. However, I’ve only seen one Slavonian Grebe there, which is probably rarest of the five inland. So a Farmoor beckoned as a winter-plumage Slavonian is currently in residence at Farmoor. I visited on a cloudy, fairly calm day, incidentally quite good conditions for this bird in its monochrome winter plumage. The bird was fairly close in on F2 but was keeping close to the floating bales giving a difficult background for photography. The ubiquitous Great Crested and Little Grebes present as always, also an Aythya hybrid which has features of both Greater and Lesser Scaup.

Festive Devon

23-27 Dec - A seasonal family visit to South Devon, with superb coastal views from the accommodation. Slapton Ley to the north and Start Point stretching away to the south with rolling yet dramatic coastal scenery. Highlights included the long-staying winter plumaged Black-necked Grebe on the Ley, with flyby Gannets along the tide edge. Waders were few and far between due to walkers and dogs but at high tide there was a flighty group of Dunlin and Grey Plover. The only real oddity was a Razorbill in the surf after a windy spell. Stonechats were fairly numerous in cliff-side scrub. Slightly further afield, a visit to Broadsands gave some views of half a dozen or so Cirl Buntings (a species restricted to Devon and Cornwall) with 2 males, one a 1st-year, and the rest females. They were fairly elusive in breezy conditions with intermittent sun, but allowed a few photographic opportunities. Also a couple of Great Northern Divers here, fairly close in.

Shorncote after a while........

22 Dec - My first visit to Shorncote for a while. Water level very high in places. Good numbers of Water Rails calling with 2 seen, and 6 Little Egrets feeding in flooded fields. A confiding pair of Stonechats along the hedgeline. Good numbers of Duck, especially dabbling ducks, present, Cetti’s Warblers and Chiffchaffs calling, and numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings dropping in at dusk to feed. At dusk, a Tawny Owl and then a Barn Owl seen in flight.

Siberian visitor........

17 Dec - Over the last few days, a fine male Black-throated Thrush has taken up winter residence at Whipsnade in Bedfordshire, frequenting the zoo grounds with a flock of Redwings. The bird has been mobile but tending to feed in the berry trees in the mornings before moving around the grounds later in the day. Unfortunately the day I was free to visit, the weather was misty and murky with rain on and off. Despite this, and the poor light for photography, I had good views of the bird, an impressive adult male with a striking black throat and upper chest, bright yellow bill, with contrasting grey/brown plumage, being about the size of a Fieldfare. In between brief forays the berry bushes, the bird also fed in the leaf litter in typical Thrush fashion. My third of this species in Britain, but the first for a few years. Well worth the trip, but the stunning pictures have been taken by others on sunny days.

Cotswolds

16 Dec - A couple of afternoon visits in the current cold weather coincided with a bit of afternoon sunshine and also with Owls hunting before dark. Some good views of both Short-eared and Barn Owls in low winter light. I never tire of seeing them.

WWT Therapy

12 Dec - A reality check with nature required after staying up most of the night for the election results...... Good views of a Water Rail from the Willow hide, and then massed waders from Hogarth, especially Knot and Black-tailed Godwits. Finally a few Bewick's Swans flying in to the Rushy at dusk. Very therapeutic in the winter afternoon sunshine.

Exe Estuary

10 Dec - A brief visit to the Exe in sunny weather and beautiful light along the estuary-side path, with a convenient train back to Topsham. Good numbers of Curlew, Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks, with Brent Geese and Shelduck. A visit to Bowling Green Marsh allowed good views in late afternoon sunlight of the Long-billed Dowitcher that is a first-winter bird and has been present now for a couple of months - the bird appeared on its own on the spit after all the waders were flushed by a passing female Marsh Harrier. Goosemoor held the regular wintering group of Greenshanks alongside accompanying Redshanks.

Ransuil - Netherlands

4 Dec - News has emerged in recent days of an exceptional roost of Long-eared Owls (Ransuil in Dutch) in a residential area of Nijmegen in the east of the country. An hour and a half by motorway from Schiphol, itself a 40- minute flight. Fine weather, with Smew initial patchy fog, gave way to winter sunshine. Nijmegen is a pleasant University city and the roost is close to forest in the east of the city. On arrival there were a mixture of birders and interested locals looking into the trees. I joined them and was surprised and elated to find up to 21 Owls roosting in a mixture of deciduous trees and an adjacent garden conifer. The birds were visible to varying extents - several birds, particularly in the conifer, were roosting at eye level and at last I was able to get my best ever close views of this enigmatic, nocturnal and charismatic species - superb views of several birds with their cryptic plumage, as well as trademark orange eyes and ear tufts. Also very atmospheric views of several birds roosting in a large deciduous tree, tucked in amongst the autumnal leaves. Superb, and well worth the day trip. Also at least 21 Great White Egrets in roadside fields, together with 5 White Storks and, best of all, a Rough-legged Buzzard perched in a motorway-side tree, with white head, dark belly and white upper tail. I’d love to revisit the Netherlands in spring/summer.

Barrow Gurney and the Cotswolds

2 Dec - A morning visit to these reservoirs in Bristol, where the regularly returning entering Long-tailed Duck has been joined by a Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver.......once I found no 3 tank, all 3 species gave fairly distant views n good light, though only the LTD allowed approach within photography range. A sunny calm afternoon prompted a detour to the Cotswolds en route home, and I was rewarded by 2 or 3 Short-eared Owls appearing in perfect low afternoon sunlight, And hunting over the grassland with graceful floating flight, with a supporting case of a brief flyby Barn Owl and good numbers of winter Thrushes.

Slimbridge revisited........

30 Nov - A visit to WWT in showery weather with some sun. After a short wait, an excellent view of one of the Bitterns from Zeiss Hide, with the bird emerging slowly from the reed channel into the area of cut reeds, and behaving in classic reptilian Bittern-like fashion, freezing among the reeds and extending its snake-like neck as it moved slowly and methodically. Again, stunning views of this usually cryptic and secretive species. Also the usual impressive spectacle of Slimbridge in winter - Bewick’s Swans nimbers slowly building, large numbers of waders - Golden Plover, Knot and Snipe, as well as Water Rails under the feeders at the Willow Hide.

Wildlife Photography Hides.....

26-27 Nov - A very successful couple of days in Tom Robinson’s hides at Bourne in west Lincolnshire. The pond hide gave excellent close views of a male Kingfisher, as well as a male Sparrowhawk. The Dyke hide the following day was a day-long vigil, after a wait I had the first of 3 visits from a male Green Woodpecker that gave prolonged views both perched and feeding on the ground. Also, a male Great Spotted Woodpecker, Another perched and hunting male Sparrowhawk, plus Jays and flyover Red Kite and Buzzard. The finale, a Tawny Owl by flashlight, perched on a stone wall. An excellent couple of days......

Blakehill Murk

25 Nov - A look in at Blakehill before dark, during a brief break in the incessant rain. The Short-eared Owl was perched up rather fornlornly on a post, trying to dry out but looking rather bedraggled. Also winter Thrushes dropping in to roost.

Twitcher’s / Eysey

24 Nov - The Marsh Harrier seen hunting over the scrape and adjacent reeds at lunchtime, with good numbers of Wigeon and Teal, and also a drake Shoveler on Pit 74, with Cetti’s Warbler and Water Rail heard. At Eysey, a reasonably large flock of 41 Common Pochard, 34 Lapwing, and 2 Shovelers.

Murky Shorncote

An afternoon visit in gloomy November weather, a Water Rail seen briefly from the second Hide and several more heard. Cetti’s Warblers singing and 3 Little Egrets on the floods. The Barn Owl emerged about 4.25pm from the old Willows.

Once Bittern twice happy......

21 Nov - Another trip to Slimbridge and vigil from the Zeiss Hide, as Bittern sightings have been frequent this week on a daily basis. After an hour or so, a snake-like head emerged briefly from the sedges beyond the reedbed, then promptly disappeared again. After an hour or so of scanning in suspense, a movement on the edge of the channel in front of the hide signalled the arrival of the Bittern at close quarters, which then proceeded to feed stealthily at the reed edge and give really good views for 10-15 minutes, half-concealing itself behind any available vegetation, while it moved in reptilian fashion, stretching its neck and then stalking through the cut reeds. Another Bittern then appeared to the right of the hide, this one was more concealed but it was fascinating to watch it clambering in the reeds in slow motion, freezing and neck-stretching when alarmed. They really are amazing birds.

Owls........

19 Nov - Another look at the Cotswolds later in the day, cold but dry weather, Barn Owls and a Short-eared Owl seen late afternoon but not prior to dusk despite the chilly weather, so no good light for the camera......

A good Gloucestershire day

18 Nov - A beautiful calm sunny early winter's day, the first for a while. I first headed to Slimbridge, my main aim being to look for Bittern/s which had been seen well over the weekend. I went to Zeiss hide, and after an hour or so the bird was seen in flight (but not by me) and then proceeded to walk along the edge of the reeds, disappear, then emerge and fly towards Kingfisher hide. I hot-footed it there, to be told I had just missed the bird....... but my instinct told me to watch the opposite edge of the reedbed, and after a couple of minutes I saw the Bittern emerge from the reed edge only a few metres away, and stealthily move along the edge of the reed-fringed water right in front of the hide, amazing to see its slightly reptilian, snake-like movements, beady red eye appearing to look right into the hide as it moved along, then raised its neck skywards, then moved back the way it had come, all the while giving brilliant views, only marred from the photographic point of view by the wire fenceline in front of the bird! There are at least 2 Bitterns on site at the moment, and they are being seen frequently, probably because they are sorting out their winter territories. From Robbie Garnett hide, beautiful views of 16 newly-arrived Bewick's Swans, calling and sparring as the family groups settled in for the winter. The call note is wild and evocative of the North. Several Snipe on view around the reserve, plus impressive numbers of Knot and Blackwits on the New Piece. Teal and Shoveler now in breeding plumage and looking very smart. Next stop Frampton, where the usual Tawny Owl was tucked up to roost in a tree hollow in the sunlight. Finally, two more Owl species in the Cotswolds - 3 Barn Owls and 2 Short-eared Owls, not seen til just after sunset when the light was fading, but a great end to the day. So nice to get a really fine winter day with crisp low sunlight, despite the chilly temperatures.

Whooper Swan

17 Nov - Good views this afternoon of a lone Whooper Swan with approximately 20 Mutes in the riverside fields on the Wiltshire side of the Thames at Lechlade. This area usually has 1 or 2 Whoopers with the winter Swan flock, but they can be very mobile around the area, especially with the current amount of flooding along the river. At Eysey, a nice flock of 50+ Golden Plovers with the Lapwings on the new excavations, also several Snipe.

The ghost of Winter......

13 Nov - A speculative late afternoon/dusk visit to Blakehill to scan the plateau, and its long grass, for winter visitors and in particular one charismatic species that has graced the area with its presence over the last several winters - I kept scanning as it got darker and towards the critical hour - and then, as the light faded well after sunset, there it was, the floppy, slightly bouncing and elastic wingbeats of a Short-eared Owl, hopefully back for the winter. It quartered the grassland until the light faded. The streaked brownish plumage, and paler underwings (but not the facial disc) were just visible in the gloaming. Hopefully better views, and in better light, later in the winter. Interestingly, last year's wintering bird also arrived in mid-November. Nationally, quite good numbers of this species have been recorded arriving from the east, so we will see if any other birds arrive at Blakehill.

Forest winter magic ......

12 Nov - A detour to the Forest of Dean en route to a study day, and a beautiful sunrise as I walked up to the clearing with only a watchful Fallow Deer for company. After scanning the open areas and the isolated bushes and trees, I saw the Great Grey Shrike perched in the morning sun, seemingly having just emerged form its roost. The Shrike then flew to the top of a nearby tree and proceeded to give very good views on the early morning sun as it scanned the clearing, presumably for potential prey. This bird has returned once again to a traditional site for the winter, and its black, white and grey plumage looked incredibly smart in the clear low winter sunlight. To complete the morning, 5 Crossbills flew over as I walked back to the car and headed off for work.

Odds and Ends.........

10 Nov - A brief stop at Twitcher's Gate today was well-timed, as the fem Marsh Harrier appeared over the reeds at the east end of the scrape. A much calmer and brighter day to encourage it out to hunt, after yesterday's rain. Also of note on the last few days, 4 Lapwings and a Mistle Thrush over the garden.

Shorncote patch

9 Nov - An early morning visit, briefly sunny and frosty before the rain set in for the day..... A lot of bird activity, including good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares erupting from the berry-laden bushes, Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, 3 Grey Wagtails, Green Woodpecker, a pair of Shoveler, Little and Great Crested Grebes, 3 Goldcrests, a Stonechat, 6-8 singing Cetti's Warblers, and best of all 6-8 Water Rail calling, with at least 4 heard in the new cut area in front of hide 2, and one emerged briefly into the open to cross a channel and allow itself to be photographed..... 2 Cetti's also seen from the hide. Promising! After a beautiful, chilly, misty start the weather deteriorated steadily and rain set in as forecast. Also 7 Roe Deer seen in the low early sunlight.

Blakehill, autumn into winter

7 Nov - A couple of visits to Blakehill this week, and the most striking change in the last couple of weeks is the arrival of good numbers of winter Thrushes. Several hundred Fieldfares and Redwings today, very mobile and flighty around the hawthorns and berry bushes but always wary. Also the usual pair of Stonechats, with several Reed Buntings and a more unusual ( here at least) male Yellowhammer.

Slimbridge fix after a while .....

6 Nov - My first Slimbridge trip for a few weeks, as the centre itself was closed due to roadworks on the access road. Very pleasing to see the first 3 Bewick's Swans of the winter on the Rushy first thing, and to think of the amazing return trip to Arctic Russia that they've completed since they were last here. Also a good showing of Geese, with 8 Pinkfeet on the Dumbles and 20 Whitefronts from Zeiss Hide. Wader numbers are really building up, with large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover out over the foreshore. Other waders present included Ruff, Redshank, a large flock of Dunlin, Curlew, and good numbers of Knot with the usual Black-tailed Godwit flock on South Lake, plus quite a few cryptic Snipe hiding in the grass around the reserve. The duck are coming out of eclipse now into their smart winter pre-breeding plumage, with good numbers of Shoveler in particular present on South Lake. A short vigil for the Bittern was unsuccessful but I'm sure it was somewhere in the reedbed ...........

Blakehill

4 Nov - A beautiful calm, slightly misty, late autumnal morning, and a lot of bird activity first thing - wary Fieldfares and Redwings diving into berry-laden Hawthorns, a pair of Stonechats calling and feeding, a couple of Reed Buntings with a few Goldfinches, a Grey Wagtail, and a passage of Meadow Pipits with Skylarks. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a lovely day to be out, and I always find it satisfying with the turn of the seasons to see good numbers of winter Thrushes arrive.

Waterlogged CWP

3 Nov - After all the recent rain, the River Thames is pretty high at the moment, and some paths/car parks around CWP are inaccessible. Birds have dispersed onto flooded fields, and this was the case at Shorncote this w/e, where, as well as my first Great White Egret for the Water Park this autumn, 12 Grey Herons were feeding on the floods, alongside a solitary Little Egret (I think most of the LEs are on North Meadow currently, with over 20 counted there in recent days). Also at Shorncote, 6-8 calling Water Rails, and increasing numbers of Teal, 4 flyover Snipe, a party of 21 Lapwings glowing in the sun, several hundred winter Thrushes (mainly Redwings) dropping in to roost, a pair of Stonechats, and at least 6 singing Cetti's Warblers. Also a calling Kingfisher and a pair of Ravens over - and, best of all, a pair of Barn Owls hunting after sunset, one coming very close to the path.

Blakehill Purple Patch

30 Oct - I've done quite well at Blakehill this month, with three quality sightings. Firstly, on the 16th, a morning visit was enlivened by the most unexpected sight of a Kingfisher flying low across the field and track, heading towards the plateau - presumably a juvenile bird looking for territory? Apparently only the second Blakehill record. Then on 24th, I visited in late afternoon on a speculative look for Short-eared Owls, hoping that at least one bird may return for the winter? Nome seen, but just before sunset a male Merlin flew in and perched for about 10 minutes, before darting off to chase a Meadow Pipit and then flying west - I couldn't see if it landed again.

Best of all, on 30th I visited again for a morning walk, and was heading down the main track when I saw a group of corvids harrying a large raptor that was approaching from the SE across the plateau. The languid flight and buoyant profile led me to assume "Red Kite" until I saw the more compact shape, the upturned wings and lack of a forked tail - I then picked up the white rump in flight, although looking into the light - female/ringtail Hen Harrier! A much-wanted bird for Blakehill, and obviously passing through as it drifted NW and kept going. Apparently, again just the second record for the site. Unbelievably, when I called at Eysey on the way home, the female Marsh Harrier that has been seen there several times recently cruised past over the flooded field, giving really good views in the sun of my second Harrier species of the day!

Add to this a passage of Stonechats at Blakehill through the month, and varying numbers of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, and it's been a rewarding autumn migration season there. I'm still waiting for the Wryneck though .........

Autumnal Otmoor

28 Oct - A visit to Otmoor on a cloudy, calm, slightly misty autumnal afternoon, when all colours in the landscape are muted and subdued. Initially quiet, a hovering Kestrel the highlight, with flyover Snipe and a distant Red Kite also seen. From the screens, small numbers of wintering duck present, and a few Common Snipe tucked well in to the cut reeds. Cetti's Warblers in good voice from the reedbeds, with Stonechats and Reed Buntings also feeding around the hedgeline, and a good total of 9 Brown Hares seen, with a flock of 65 or so Lapwing, and calling Water Rails. Walking back along the bridleway, I kept my eyes open as a Short-eared Owl was seen at dusk last night - at 4.30 a flurry of flushed Snipe announced the presence of a SEO which was surprisingly difficult to pick up low over the field in the fading light. It was mobbed mercilessly by corvids and had to climb high to avoid these, before descending back to hunt around the reedbed, where it was joined by another SEO and also by 2 Barn Owls, glowing white in the darkness. To complete an excellent afternoon, a Bittern flew in to roost on the central reedbed at Greenaways, and 2 Marsh Harriers hunted the reedbed margin in the gloaming. Well worth the trip.

Dorset coast.........

23-24 Oct - A couple of visits to Weymouth sites while I was in the area. Two morning visits to Lodmoor unfortunately coincided with misty dull weather (but no rain) so the photography opportunities were somewhat limited. Several Common Snipe were roosting at fairly close quarters from the west path, and gave nice autumnal perspectives as their straw brown plumage blended nicely with the autumn reeds. The west scrape often has fairly confiding waders feeding, and there were also several Black-tailed Godwits feeding at close quarters - other birds here included flyover Great White Egrets, a hunting female Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher and calling Water Rails and Cetti's Warblers. Radipole was fairly quiet, with high water levels, but a group of Bearded Tits were "pinging" in the reedbed, however in the breezy conditions they didn't come to the top of the reeds. Ferrybridge on the falling tide produced a dozen or so Med Gulls in plumages varying from adult winter to first-year birds (in addition to several adult birds at Lodmoor) - also here waders including Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Bar-tailed Godwit. Fifty or so Brent Geese flew in to the mudflats as the tide dropped.

Shorncote evening

21 Oct - A fine evening, so a visit to Shorncote (still somewhat flooded) and staying til dusk. Viewing from the first hide, Water Rails and Cetti's Warblers called but scanning revealed no sign of the very elusive Bittern that is presumed to be in residence. My vigil was rewarded however when a Barn Owl appeared from the old willow trees and headed towards the quarry, then walking back towards South Cerney 2 Barn Owls were quartering the field nearest the crossroads - so 2, and perhaps 3, birds present ? Also seen, a party of 40 or so Redwings and Fieldfares that descended on the reedbed to roost. Cetti's warblers were singing and at darkness a Tawny Owl was calling from the Willows, so two Owl species present.

Scotland - Ben Alder

18-19 Oct - My last Munro trip of the year, to the remote Ben Alder range.........seasonal autumnal weather, with shifting cloud, showers, northerly breeze and a dusting of snow on the higher tops on the last morning. Fairly limited sightings bird-wise, but several nice groups of Ptarmigan on the tops totalling over 20 birds, some moulting into winter plumage, seen both feeding on the stony ground and in flight. The hills echoed to the sound of roaring Red Deer stags especially at dawn and dusk, and some good sightings of stags with attendant hinds, although they were generally fairly wary. A skein of Pink-footed Geese seen flying over eastwards at dusk presumably having arrived in from Iceland on their retreat from the northern winter.

Nighthawk !

12 Oct - something I don't do at all often, but I really like Nightjars and night birds, so a long-staying Common Nighthawk is a very special vagrant - the slight drawback was that this one is currently resident in Northern Ireland....so a day trip from Bristol! The bird is roosting in a paddock near Ballymena and feeding morning and evening over the adjacent river. I arrived during the day, and had good views of the beautiful but cryptic plumage of the bird as it roosted photogenically on a mossy sycamore branch, blending with the tree colour with its mottled/barred plumage, eyes occasionally opening but mostly closed as it slept away the daylight hours. The bird would be very hard to locate if no one else was on site, but being a weekend there was a steady trickle of admirers, both Irish and British, so the bird could be pointed out to newcomers. Towards dusk it woke up, stretched a little and departed the roosting spot close overhead, calling softly, to hawk for insects, showing stiffer wingbeats than European Nightjar, together with large white wing patches and corners to the tail. A memorable and atmospheric encounter with this rare visitor. Incidentally, my impression of Northern Ireland was that it is green and tree-covered, reminding me perhaps most of Wales (in terms of other parts of the UK). Strange to think that this small province is at the epicentre of the current Brexit conundrum.......

Wet Blakehill

11 Oct - a couple of recent trips to Blakehill succeeded in dodging the rain - fairly quiet. An ongoing passage of Meadow Pipits with a few Skylarks, and Stonechats appearing fairly regularly - 2 females on the latest visit. Hopefully some will stay for the winter. A lack of easterlies so far this autumn means a scattering of Redwings only, with no Fieldfares so far. Ravens seem fairly prominent at the moment, with some autumn display going on.

WWT

9 Oct - A quick look from the hides before and after a photo course. Fairly quiet, but winter ducks starting to arrive, and in smart post-eclipse plumage. Nice views of a couple of Snipe from Martin Smith hide, cryptically plumaged in the cut reeds. At least 10 fairly late Swallows hawking over the grounds in fairly warm but windy conditions.

Hayling...... briefly!

4 Oct - A half-hour scan of the estuary by Hayling Bridge before a medical study day down the road, on a sunny morning with a low but rising tide. Curlews and Grey Plovers obvious, including one of the latter in its stunning summer plumage - also Oystercatcher, Redshank, Dunlin and Bar-tailed Godwit. Ten or so Little Egrets fishing in the creeks. A good sanity dose before spending the day in a room with no windows!

Shorncote etc

3 Oct - A cold slightly misty morning at Shorncote with gentle autumn colours in the greyness. Meadow Pipits passing over fairly continuously with a few Skylarks but also 2 late Swallows - the biggest surprise was my first 4 Redwings heard and seen, with diagnostic views in the bins. Surprisingly no Stonechats, but Reed Buntings present, also Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Raven, calling Kingfisher, 3 flyover Snipe and several Lapwing flocks plus a calling Green Sandpiper. 21 Shoveler were seen in flight from Twitchers Gate, and a Green Sandpiper on the flood at Eysey. Surprisingly, no Egrets of any variety at Shorncote, but a flock of 9 on floods by the River Thames at Castle Eaton.

Slimbridge Bonanza

1 Oct - An afternoon visit to Slimbridge on the basis that recently the Zeiss Hide Bittern has been fairly obliging at times. The added attraction was that the recent very high tides have pushed a decent selection of waders onto the high tide roost, and there were at least a dozen species on view from the hide, including an elegant Spotted Redshank, 4 dumpy Knots, several early Golden Plovers and a beautiful Greenshank, amongst the Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Ruff, with a group of camouflaged Snipe tucked in under the Bank. The reedbed has several rides cut into it to aid viewing from the hide, and a couple of Water Rails scuttled across. Scanning the reeds in between viewing the distant waders, I couldn’t believe it when after an hour or so the Bittern suddenly emerged in full view right in front of the hide! It proceeded to walk stealthily across several of the rides over the next 10 minutes or so, moving slowly and stopping to look or extend its neck warily at intervals - offering a superb opportunity to study the amazing cryptic plumage and the sinuous movements through the reeds. On reaching the main reedbed the Bittern melted into the vegetation and then preened, extending its neck for a final look round before disappearing. A superb showing which left us all elated and feeling privileged to get this performance from such an elusive and special bird. Oh, and a flyby Peregrine as well!

Shorncote

30 Sep - My first visit to Shorncote for a while. A fairly good selection of autumn birds and Shorncote specialities - 2 Little Grebes, a flock of a hundred or so Tufted Duck and the first Wigeon of the winter, calling Water Rail, Lapwing flock in flight, 2 Kingfishers including one perched, a passage of Meadow Pipits, 3 fairly confiding Stonechats, and 3 Greenfinches, a local scarcity these days. 2 late Swallows, and a late juvenile Wheatear, were a sign of ongoing migration.

Blakehill recently

3 Oct - Several recent walks at Blakehill. Stonechats are passing through and hopefully arriving for the winter, with a flock of 8 seen this evening, and a late Whinchat this week as well. The Wheatears seem to have finally moved on southwards, still a few Chiffchaffs calling in the hedges though. I’ve seen Peregrine on 2 of my last 3 visits. Good numbers of Swallows present especially in the strong winds at the end of Sept, swooping low around the cattle, a Snipe flyby, and good numbers of Meadow Pipits passing overhead.

WWT

25 Sept - A fairly quiet early morning at Slimbridge, but very nice light on the pools especially on the Black-tailed Godwits feeding in front of Robbie Garnett Hide. Increasing numbers of wintering is now arriving and moulting out of eclipse into smart winter plumage.

Local outings

23 Sept - Recent visits to Blakehill and Shorncote. A definite autumnal feel, with Meadow Pipits passing in good numbers, the Wheatears having moved on to southern climes, and the Swallow passage petering out. Stonechats beginning to appear, with one accompanying a late Whinchat and Blakehill, and 4 the next day at Shorncote - also 2 late (presumably juvenile) Hobbies at Shorncote feeding on dragonflies - mainly Migrant Hawkers - in the windy weather - in view of the unsettled forecast, probably my last sighting this year of one of my favourite birds. Wintering Teal and Wigeon beginning to arrive. An interesting time of year for passage species with one or two scarcities to be expected......

Farmoor wader hotspot

21 Sept - A late afternoon visit to Farmoor on the last of the cloudless September days. The evening light was excellent, and I had really superb views of the tiny juvenile Little Stint that was still present on the causeway, keeping company with a juvenile Dunlin that appeared much bigger and more bulky on this direct comparison. Waders always appear, to me at least, smaller when seen very close to, and the Stint was barely bigger than the Pied Wagtail that was at one point adjacent to it on the causeway. It is always fascinating to see these Arctic breeders on their way south, presumably the juveniles have not encountered much of humanity and they always appear fearless, especially so for some reason on the causeway at Farmoor. Also present, a juvenile Knot, only my second ever here, and 2 juvenile Ruffs, a new species for my Farmoor wader list.

Farlington Foray

19 Sept - Another perfect cloudless day in prospect. I decided to head down to Farlington where a rare vagrant, an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, has been present for the last few days. As back up there is a good variety of waders especially on passage, and high tide was early afternoon. I arrived to see a small group of birders watching the hawthorn bushes, the EOW was still present and I had excellent views within 5 minutes of arriving - distinctively long-billed, with distinctive tail-dipping and a soft call that enabled the bird to be tracked when within the vegetation. I therefore had plenty of time to look for waders as the tide gradually rose, and I checked the adjacent Langstone harbour and also drove round to a couple of wader spots on Hayling Island. Langstone proved the most productive with birds gradually moving onto the lagoon as the tide rose, with Greenshanks and Grey Plovers proving the last to be pushed off by the rising tide as it covered the remaining mud islands. There was a good variety of waders present including 2-3 Curlew Sandpipers, at least 15 Greenshanks and 25+ Knot, amongst the more numerous Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and Dunlin, together with impressive Curlews with their decurved bills. Greenshanks are one of my favourite waders, always so elegant, so a flock of 13 in one scope view was a real treat. Some of the Grey Plovers were only just beginning to moult out of their stunning summer plumage, presumably having recently arrived from their Arctic breeding areas. The Curlew Sandpipers present were fairly easy to pick out from the neighbouring Dunlin, with longer decurved bills and legs, and larger size, together with their active feeding behaviour thigh-deep in the water. Hayling held about 15 or so Bar-tailed Godwits, a regular site for them. I also saw the remarkable total of at least 46 Little Egrets during the morning. An excellent day.

Lower Moor

18 Sept - The perfect autumn weather continues, and I called in at Lower Moor to look for hawking Hobbies, as there is a good dragonfly population (prey) here. None seen amongst the hawking Gulls feeding on insects. A good view of a female Kestrel perched along the entrance track, a few Swallows moving, and a calling Nuthatch and Green Woodpecker. Insect highlight was definitely a perched Brown Hawker - these normally zoom around in the sun, and I've hardly ever seen one perched. let alone photographed one.

Blakehill

17 Sept - An early morning visit on a beautiful misty autumnal morning. A busy morning - A flyover Peregrine and a hunting Kestrel, a flyover Snipe calling and heading steadily SW, 2 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a calling Jay - and a definite autumnal feel with a steady movement of Meadow Pipits and groups of Swallows, and calling Skylarks - 2 Wheatears still present, Warblers including Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, and a group of 6 or so Reed Buntings.

Moor Green

16 Sept - A look at the juvenile Black-winged Stilt at Moor Green which has been present now for several days - possibly a UK-bred bird in view of the time of year and the nature of the occurrence? Characteristically long-legged, with pale dusky imm plumage. Also present for comparison, Greenshank and 2 Ruff, 8 Snipe, and Green and Common Sandpipers.

Wryneck!

15 Sept - A rare local opportunity for chance look for a Wryneck, one of those scarce migrant species that always gets the pulse racing in birders. A drive over to Sodbury Common, and an initial brief glimpse of the bird perched up, it then dropped between some bushes and after a few minutes wait we spotted the Wryneck feeding, Woodpecker-like, on the hillocks between the bushes. Amazing cryptic bark-like plumage, it moved unobtrusively among the tufts, sometimes only its head visible. Probably my best-ever prolonged views of the species. Also present on the common - Redstart, Wheatear and Whinchat.

East coast waders

6-11 Sept - A few days in Norfolk within striking distance of both Cley and Titchwell. A decent total of 22 wader species seen, no rarities but several scarce migrants including 3-4 smart Spotted Redshanks and several elegant Greenshanks at Cley, and a Curlew Sandpiper and a very confiding Purple Sandpiper at Titchwell - as well as good views of both Black-tailed and especially Bar-tailed Godwits - good numbers of Ruff - and Knot, Sanderling and Turnstone on the beach, a flyover Whimbrel, and a high-tide Curlew flock at Cley. Snipe were present but fairly elusive, and Avocets still at both sites after the end of the breeding season. Also seen - Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret and Mediterranean Gull.

Nearctic wader etc .....

4 Sept - A high-tide visit to Goldcliff, across the Severn bridge, and good ‘scope views of the juvenile Semi-palmated Sandpiper from the hides, alongside a Little Stint in the Dunlin flock. Small, pale, short-billed, stint-like feeding action, plain upperparts, A surprising lack of larger waders except for 2 Ruff, but a distant Marsh Harrier and Red Kite. In CWP, a quick look at Eysey produced 2 LRPs and a Green Sandpiper, with a flyover Marsh Harrier, and a male Sparrowhawk, both struggling in the strong wind.

Blakehill

3 Sept - An evening visit in fairly calm conditions produced a line up of no less than 8 Whinchats along the fenceline, accompanied by 4 Wheatears - an impressive spectacle.

Skye Munro bagging

31 Aug - 2 Sept - A few wet days on Skye but despite this some decent birds seen while walking/ climbing. The absolute highlight was an amazing view of a Golden Eagle, my closest ever in the UK...... as we started the walk in early sun, I heard Ravens calling behind me and I turned to see a magnificent Golden Eagle flying at eye level no more than 30 meters away, dwarfing the Ravens - a stunning view of the broad wings, large bill and the all-dark plumage of an adult bird. The same afternoon an adult White-tailed Eagle soared over the road near Carbost, and a pair of Red-throated Divers on a loch in Glen Brittle, where the beach also held a few passage waders including Sanderling, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Overall, an autumnal few days, but a few good sightings.

CWP waders........

30 Aug - A couple of looks at Eysey this week, John Durell found a Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover on the wet field here on 27 Aug, and they were all still present on the morning of 30th.

Slimbridge foray

29 Aug - An early morning visit to Slimbridge in the hope of seeing a few passage waders close to the hides - fairly quiet generally for migrants with the fine nights, but Green Sandpiper, Snipe and Blackwit seen on the Rushy along with an obliging Grey Wagtail, and a good count of 6 Greenshanks in the high tide roost from Zeiss Hide, along with Ruff and Avocet, amongst the Blackwit flock.

Blakehill

26 Aug - A morning visit on a fine day with little wind. The female Redstart still present but keeping in cover, also an obliging Wheatear along the fence line. Otherwise fairly quiet, but Whitethroats feeding actively in the hedges. Raptors included a Buzzard and 2 Kestrels.

Garden Hobby

24 Aug - At last, alerted by the alarm calls of Swallows, I very belatedly saw my first flyover garden Hobby of the year....

Kingfisher pond..........

23 Aug - An early morning trip to Farmoor and Shrike Meadow Hide, where Kingfishers have been reliable recently on the pool in front of the hide near the River Thames, presumably juvenile birds learning to fish, courtesy of a conveniently-placed post. After an hour or so’s wait, a bird flew in and perched initially on the reed stems, then flew to the post which is nicely positioned for the camera and the early morning light. Lovely close views of the bird as it perched, caught prey and proceeded to swallow it in full view. Also seen, 3 late Swifts and a Little Egret.

WWT fix .........

17 Aug - An early morning visit to Slimbridge, always some migrant waders to see this time of the year, and although fairly quiet, a Snipe and Green Sandpiper were fairly photogenic on the Rushy where a Hobby also flew through. The high tide roost from Zeiss hide held 3 Greenshanks, a Knot and a Sanderling amongst the more usual Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank and Ruff, with a few Avocets also scattered amongst the flock.

Fishing Ospreys .......

13 Aug - An evening visit to Horn Mill Trout Farm and the Osprey hide. Osprey 28 was around most of the afternoon - a 9-yr old male - and we saw 3 dives (2 successful) and an aborted dive. High adrenaline photography as it’s a bit all-or-nothing when the bird dives - miss the photo and you’ve no second chance. Always exciting to see the bird splash deep into the water at close range. Also a couple of juvenile Grey Herons disputing dominance at the water’s edge, and a flyby Kingfisher, as well as good numbers of Swallows and House Martins.

Blakehill

11 Aug - My first walk at Blakehill for a while, in a strong westerly breeze, and a bit of an autumnal feel. Several parties of Swallows feeding low over the plateau totalling at least 50 birds, and a Hobby perched briefly and distantly on a post was mobbed before it flew off with typical rakish profile. Also 2 fairly skittish Wheatears feeding along the fence posts, and a vocal female Redstart. Small birds generally keeping low and being elusive in the wind.

CWP Waders

9 Aug - A weather front moving through dropped a nice selection of waders at pit 200, including Greenshank and Ruff, as well as 3 Dunlin, Green and Common Sandpipers. So far CWP has missed out on the good number of Wood Sandpipers scattered across the country ..........

Better late than never ..........

8 Aug - Having missed the Little Bustard at Slimbridge, I was very satisfied to finally catch up with it further north at Mickletown, where it has taken up residence in the fields. Almost certainly the same individual, considering it is such a rare visitor ....... good views of the bird feeding in the early morning sun, and at one stage seen in flight, when it had a narrow escape from a female Peregrine. A smart bird being a male, and giving much better views, in the short grass field, than it did at WWT! A pair of Curlew feeding with it gave an interesting size comparison.

Wessex.......

2 Aug - A butterfly trip south for probably my favourite UK species, Brown Hairstreak, then a detour on the way home and views of a soaring Montagu’s Harrier at a known site, also Red Kite and Buzzard.

Honey Buzzard........

1 Aug - A sunny forecast, albeit with light winds, and a visit to Acres Down. I enjoy scanning here, with several raptors possible, and as usual Common Buzzards were the first to appear as the cloud burnt off. After 90 mins or so, I was scanning when I saw a large raptor being mobbed by a Sparrowhawk..... a male Honey Buzzard! Excellent views of the pale underparts, dark carpal patch, and the flat profile with elastic wingbeats. Superb ‘scope views of one of my favourite raptors. Also there - flyover Hawfinch and Crossbill, also Little Egret and Grey Heron.....also Redstart singing.

Nocturnal sounds .......

31 July - the juvenile Tawny Owls have been quite vocal in recent nights in the nearby trees, and heard squeaking again at dusk tonight - also a Hedgehog wandering around happily on the gravel area outside the front door.

CWP after the deluge

30 July - A look at Pit 200 this afternoon after an extremely wet morning, and 3 Hobbies emerged to feed on dragonflies and insects in the intermittent sun. Also 13 Common Terns on the spit, including a juvenile.

CWP

27 Jul - Green Sandpipers and Lapwings on the move, with birds at Pit 74 and Pit 200 - 2 Common Sandpipers also at Pit 74.

Anglesey 15-22 July 2019

A few days at Malltraeth, with a view of Snowdon from the front door! (Weather permitting....). Plenty of Choughs at the tip of the Lleyn peninsula, including family parties calling in flight..... seabirds including a few Puffins at South Stack, and the Malltraeth estuary with the adjacent Cors Ddyba RSPB reserve..... Curlew and Redshank on the estuary, with the reedbed at the reserve holding good numbers of Warblers, the best being the long-staying Savi’s Warbler, heard reeling. A male Marsh Harrier also seen hunting. The highlight was a visit to Cemlyn Bay and the Tern colony, predominantly Sandwich Terns with a scattering of Commons. Also heard here the mournful “singing” of Grey Seals, which I have never heard before.

Puffins Galore ..........

8 July - A late breeding season visit (on a fine summer day) to Staple and Inner Islands, the seabird colony was in full swing, with Puffins especially whizzing past with beakfuls of fish, alongside the Guillemots and ever-smart Razorbills in their jet-black plumage. Also Kittiwakes, Fulmars and Gannets cruising past. Not forgetting the aggressive Arctic Terns dive-bombing the visitors! A cacophony of sound and constant movement of birds whirring in all directions, a very impressive spectacle. As usual, lots of photo opportunities, but original composition and focussing on flying birds more of a challenge.........

Owls

3 July - Last night, a real surprise, a Little Owl perched on a telegraph pole at dusk within a mile of home - the first I have seen here for several years. This evening, on another perfect summer evening, a couple of squeaky young Tawny Owls calling in the trees at the bottom of the neighbour's field. Plus superb views of screaming Swifts every evening during the current fine spell.

Southern England specialities

2 July - A morning on the open areas of the south, I’m keeping the location deliberately vague as first of all I had good views of a Stone Curlew, in one of the stronghold areas for this species, and while watching it I listened to a Quail calling - then, nearby, distant flight views of a male Montagu’s Harrier as it circled over in the morning sun. A productive and successful visit.

Night Heron

2 July - An evening visit to Pittville Park in Cheltenham, where an adult Black-crowned Night Heron has been present for a couple of days. As the name suggests, this species is crepuscular, as indicated by it's large red eye, so after a short wait, the bird flew in to the island in the lake and commenced feeding. The bird is an adult in breeding plumage complete with head plumes. It crept about on the roots overhanging the water, giving very good views. I saw a Night Heron at this same location back in 2014, so this could possibly be the same individual ?? Good to see a rare bird at last in Glos, after missing last week's Little Bustard and Red-backed Shrike due to being elsewhere / work.

Summer WWT

29 June - An unsuccessful scan of the Dumbles for the Little Bustard seen at Slimbridge while I was away - compensation in the form of a perched Hobby, and very good views of Avocets with young on the Rusty Pen - the chicks varying in size from very small, to some closer to fledging. Even the smallest had distinctive upturned bills and were instinctively serving the water. An amazing conservation success story locally. The summering Med Gull also seen on the Rushy.

Nightjar fix

28 June - My annual Nightjar foray, on a perfect summer evening at Greenham Common, combined with travelling for a family visit. I arrived on site at 9.30pm as it was beginning to get dark, and within 10 minutes I heard a Nightjar calling - not seen, but heard churring with its slightly mesmerising call at close range over the next half hour. A roding Woodcock also flew over calling.

Spitsbergen 17-24 June 2019

What an amazing place ! A week-long trip on the Plancius, from Longyearbyen up the west coast of the archipelago. The pack ice is further south than usual this year, so we were unable to head round the north side of Svalbard at all, but this had the advantage of increasing our chances of seeing Polar Bears on the pack ice. The landscape is truly amazing, extremely mountainous with some snow cover and glaciation, which combined with the shifting mists and sea ice (in the north) is very impressive indeed. The ship has zodiac boats which can be lowered for access to shore-based landings, and also for cruises along the shoreline and fjord edge. A stunning landscape with generally very confiding wildlife - large numbers of auks - Brunnich's Guillemots and Little Auks - flying around low over the water, Fulmars including the arctic variant Blue Fulmars cruising around, but surprisingly no Ivory Gulls (I missed the only one of the trip). We did extremely well with Polar Bear sightings - no less than 7 being seen, including 2 very close individuals that afforded wonderful opportunities - the first found sleeping on the pack ice before walking towards the ship and giving us amazing views - and the second watched at close range from a zodiac as it snoozed on a blue iceberg. Amazing. We also had excellent views of Walrus, a family of Arctic Foxes, and Seals, as well as Whales - 2 pods of Belugas, 2 Minke Whales, a Humpback, and the biggest of them all - the Blue Whale. All these seen well at fairly close range. The diversity of bird species is very limited at high latitudes, but superb views of a pair of confiding Red-throated Divers, Long-tailed Ducks, a drake King Eider with the numerous Common Eiders, and both Arctic and the scarcer Long-tailed Skuas. The only passerine present is the confiding Snow Bunting. Ghostly-looking Glaucous Gulls and Kittiwakes were numerous. Shorebirds included the very common Purple Sandpiper, as well as Turnstone and Ringed Plover. A fantastic few days, with 24-h daylight thrown in up at 78 degrees north...... the sun doesn't set between April and August! Strange to have it beaming down at 2am.

Wet Wet Wet

13 June - A really wet, cold few days. Probably very bad news for fledglings, especially waterfowl and waders. Swifts and hirundines feeding low over the lakes and in the lee of any trees in a desperate search for insects. Despite the weather, Little Egret seen in flight and Cuckoo calling.

Brief Scottish Foray

7 June - A short Scottish trip for a weather window and Munroing, in the Glenshee area. The breeding season up on the hills, and several Golden Plover heard, with a pair (presumably nesting) seen well. Ptarmigan also heard, and I flushed a pair that I didn’t see til they flew, amazingly camouflaged when amongst the rocks. Lower in the Glen, 5-6 pairs of Curlews seen and heard, but not a single corvid seen all day - the two related? The biggest surprise and highlight was a summer-plumaged Black-throated Diver on an upland loch. Also seen, several Wheatears and numerous Meadow Pipits, And a singing Ring Ouzel heard on the cliffs, as well as several Red Grouse, archetypal species of the heathery slopes of these hills.

Avocet trio in CWP

4 June - Having missed an Avocet at Pit 74 earlier in the spring, I was pleased to get a report that 3 birds had arrived at Pit 200 Kent End. I headed there straightaway and had good scope views of the birds busy feeding - interestingly, 3 Avocets were at Farmoor this morning but flew off, so could well be the same birds - presumably, as his species increases as a breeding bird at fairly local sites such as Slimbridge, records in the Water Park will become more regular. With a Sanderling at the same Pit a week earlier, I’ve seen a reasonable selection of waders locally on spring passage this year. Also present, a juvenile LRP, very good to see.

Crane.......

4 June - A new CWP bird for me in the form of a Common Crane (at an unspecified location). Seen in flight initially. Cranes have been seen occasionally in the Water Park in recent months.

Odds and Ends

1 June - A Hobby powered over Marston Mersey this evening presumably after hirundines and Swifts, and yesterday evening (31st) a Sanderling dropped in to Pit 200 - always a late spring migrant as a high Arctic breeder.

Ham Wall

1 June - A warm fine day, a morning at Ham Wall - 2 flyby Bitterns plus lots of booming early on, lots of Great White Egrets, an obliging male Marsh Harrier, a day-hunting Barn Owl and Cuckoos going non-stop, and. Great Crested Grebe family of 5 stripey chicks. En route home, 2 Cattle Egrets at Catcott also a calling Quail. An enjoyable trip.

North West Scotland, 18-25 May

A week's Munroing with Jen and Matt, plus birding added in, based at Ullapool. The weather overall was cool, cloudy and breezy, with the tops shrouded for most of the week except for 21st (when we were on Handa for the seabirds) and the afternoon of 24th. I managed to see a good selection of Scottish specialities during the week, starting with Wood Warbler and Pied Flycatcher in the bird woods near Aviemore. The mountain walks yielded several Ptarmigan sightings, more surprising was a trip of four (presumably migrant) Dotterel on the summit of Am Faochagach in the Fannichs. Needless to say, I did not have the camera in my bag..... A singing Ring Ouzel on Ben Hope, 2 Red- and 3 (brief) very smart Black-throated Divers on coastal lochs in Assynt and Dunlin and Ringed Plover on the beaches allowed good views. The ornithological highlight was a visit to the important seabird colony on Handa Island - one of the biggest in the UK with an estimated 200,000 birds. Both Great and Arctic Skuas breed here, the latter declining and in small numbers, their rakish falcon-like profiled distinctive amongst the lumbering Bonxies which are the bullies of the island. Large numbers of Guillemots breed including some of the bridled form, together with good numbers of Razorbills and small numbers of Puffins. Jen and Matt had never seen a Puffin before and were delighted with their views of 20 or 30 birds on the clifftop, behaving in their usual comical fashion. Altogether a very memorable experience, an added bonus being the views of the mainland and in particular the Assynt mountains rearing up into the sky in the primeval landscape, where the exposed rock look like the skeleton of the earth. Other species seen during the week included Rock and Tree Pipit, and a group of Twite around our chalet, but one of the most memorable aspects was the sheer number of singing Cuckoos - they are everywhere in the North West, presumably becuae of the numbers of Meadow Pipits that they can parasitise - and this is such a contrast to the south of England where the Cuckoos song has become something of a wetland speciality.

CWP - Black Terns and Grasshoppers

16 May - A couple of visits to CWP this week during the spell of hot, fine spring weather. An early morning and a late evening visit to pit 82 produced not one, but two, reeling Grasshopper warblers - with a couple of perched and flight views that were quite obliging, especially early in the morning. Reed and Sedge Warblers also much in evidence, with singing Cetti's warblers and Cuckoos as a backdrop. The easterlies also resulted in a marked passage of Black Terns, with 4 at pit 57 on 15th and 4 (same?) at pit 74 the following day. Always special birds to see, very graceful and striking with their jet back summer plumage.

Hobbies .........

13 May - A midday visit to pit 57 on hot, sunny conditions revealed the remarkable total of 13 Hobbies hawking high above the pit, some invisible to the naked eye, with Gulls and Terns hawking lower down on the insect hatch, mainly Mayflies. The Hobbies graceful as always, gliding and swooping with typical Falcon profile, either rakish or with tails flared as required. These birds will shortly disperse to breed and become much more elusive. Cuckoos calling soporifically in the sun.

Point Pelee 6-11 May

6-12 May - A spring trip to this North American migration hotspot on the north shore of Lake Erie, with Chris Dodds Canadian photographer. The second week of May sees the Warbler passage at its peak with the potential for falls of these charismatic, colourful species if southerly winds encourage their migration and the weather turns contrary - these birds then become exhausted crossing the water, and drop into the Point to feed, allowing close views. The weather in Ontario has been unsettled and wet his spring, and the showery conditions continued during my visit - indeed, on the 9th, regular visitors described the fall as one of the best days for a couple of decades - the Point was crawling with migrants, with birds dropping into the trees and also landing on the beach where they fed at close range along the tide line, oblivious their human admirers. Amazingly colourful in their vivid breeding plumage, they afforded stunning views - Blackburnian Warblers with flame-coloured throats glowing, multi-coloured Chestnut-sided, Cape May and Bay-breasted Warblers, stunning American Redstarts, together with confiding Vireos, and more skulking Warblers such as Mourning and Kentucky - all these species and more were seen at close range, though with such active species photography is always a challenge - I achieved reasonable pics of most species - as well as the above, good looks also at Black-and-White and Northern Parula, amazing views of Ovenbird, and the glowing male Prothonotary Warbler, along with skulking Thrushes. Wader passage at Hillman Marsh was poorer than average apparently due to widespread flooding dispersing the shorebirds, though I had very good views of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, as well as views of Short-billed Dowitcher and Wilson’s Phalarope. Altogether a very successful week, at least 25 Warbler species seen with great views of most of them. North American birders are very friendly compared with their UK counterparts.

Good local birding doubled!

4 May - An excellent though unexpected day. Firstly, I headed early to Grimsbury reservoir in north Oxfordshire where a Red-rumped Swallow has been seen for the last couple of days, feeding low over the water with a mixed flock of newly-arrived hirundines. With the current cool northerly winds, the bird was unlikely to move on from a ready source of insects until the weather improved, and so it proved, with excellent views of this vagrant hirundine as it fed up and down the reservoir, giving good views of the distinctive flight pattern and striking buff and orange coloration. Large numbers of House Martins present for comparison with smaller numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins, a few early Swifts, also an obliging Lesser Whitethroat. Most unexpected news mid-afternoon was of a "trip" of 3 Dotterel on the Wilts boundary west of Castle Combe. I got there fairly fast and was treated to excellent views of this rare and beautiful Plover, a denizen of high altitudes and high latitudes - one bird, presumably a female being very brightly marked, together with two slightly duller companions. A real bonus in the evening sunlight, and at fairly close range, and my first in Wiltshire for over 20 years. A very good day!

CWP update

May 1 - regular checks on CWP recently have produced a variety of waders including Greenshanks at Eysey and 200, LRPs still present, and Common Sandpipers and Whimbrels. Common Terns are now back in good numbers. A visit to Lower Mill área showed spring in full flow - the highlight being 3-4 Hobbies back - always a thrill to see the first of these each spring hawking for insects, one of my favourite birds, elegant and rakish in shape and behaviour with the added lure of being uncommon and fairly elusive. And simply a beautiful bird! Warblers now in very good voice, lots of Garden Warblers now pouring out their guttural song, with Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats, Sedge and Cetti’s Warblers. Good numbers of Cuckoos seem in evidence this year, and, icing on the cake, at least 20 Swifts over Pit 74 during a rain shower, bang on cue on the first day of May.

The rest of Yorkshire.......

Other odds and ends from a cool and fairly cloudy N Yorks coast were a pair of Red Grouse, a couple of Curlews (which were less common than I expected) and lots of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. Yellowhammers and Whitethroats were common, along with Oystercatchers along the coast. Bonus birds at Bempton were Peregrine and a daylight-hunting Barn Owl.

Seabird city, Bempton.........

27 April - An evening visit to Bempton with the showery weather generating dramatic cloudscapes. A cacophony of calling seabirds on the towering cliffs and in the air. The Gannets looked huge at close quarters, and some were carrying beakfuls of vegetation to line their ledges. Kittiwakes were calling and cruising around with the Fulmars, but the greatest numbers of birds were the Auks - good numbers of Guillemots, with a reasonable showing of the smart black Razorbills with their striking bills, and smaller numbers of Puffins including several close individuals with their comical, trusting expressions as always. As usual with seabirds, lots of photographic opportunities, but a challenge to get good flight shots.

Round and about the Severn

25 April - An early visit to Goldcliff just over the Bridge (toll-free now......) and very successful - the male Red-necked Phalarope was still spinning away on the lagoons, and the Spoonbill as loafing around on the bank. The rising tide beyond the sea wall was productive with a group of Whimbrels present, flighty and calling as well as feeding on the sea edge, and a migrant flock of Bar-tailed Godwits was also present, including 2 birds in rich chestnut summer plumage. Slimbridge on the way home was not especially productive, but good numbers of Blackwits here too are now in summer plumage - and 4 Med Gulls were present including 2 full adults that were displaying. Is this the year that they will finally breed here ?? Back at CWP, a check on the field by Pit 83 produced 2 Whimbrel feeding! This used to be a traditional site for them, but I’ve not seen any here since 2016, so a welcome sight indeed.

CWP recently

24 April - I’ve been keeping an eye recently on CWP with spring migration getting under way ........waders seen in the last few days include Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper at Eysey, and the usual scatter of LRPs. Redshanks and Oystercatchers are being seen regularly. The first Hobby of the year was seen on 22nd feeding over the scrape at pit 74. I heard the singing Grasshopper Warbler at Pit 200 at dusk, also on 22nd. On 21st I had views of no less than 5 Wheatears at Blakehill, with this one female being especially confiding for the camera. No Whinchats yet though! A par of Swallows have returned to the neighbur’s stables, and Cuckoos are singing in CWP, so it is officially spring.......

Scotland at Easter

18-20 April - My first Scottish trip of the year, at the end of a fine warm spell - Munros in the Glen Carron area. Meadow Pipits and a few Wheatears were back on the moors. Loch Carron held 3 fishing, summer-plumaged Red-throated Divers. 2 distant Golden Eagles were seen soaring from Lurg Mhor to the south of Loch Monar, and I heard my first Cuckoo of the year from Lochcarron on 19th. I had time on the last morning to call in at Udale Bay on the Black Isle - a variety of waders here on the rising tide including Bar-tailed Godwits and Redshank, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover - and also good numbers of Pink-footed Geese stopping off on their spring journey back to Iceland.

Winter merging into Spring.......

10 April - A half day of birding at several sites. Calling in at Liddington Hill was a good plan - several Ring Ouzels were seen the previous day, and a couple of other people were searching - I had several flight views of both male and female as they darted between the hawthorns and ivy-covered trees, then the male perched up and gave good, though distant, scope views. I decided to go to Blashford Lakes past Salisbury, as there have been good numbers of Bramblings feeding close to the hide, now moulting into summer plumage and giving photographic opportunities. Numbers had dropped, as the recent fine weather has presumably allowed some birds to start their migration, but there were half a dozen or so birds feeding by the woodland hide, including a couple of males with almost black heads, looking very striking. Unfortunately most of the hide windows have fixed glass, and the birds were not appearing regularly in front of the open window, but I tried my best with the camera, with reasonable results. Finally, a walk on Hampton Ridge initially only revealed Stonechats and Meadow Pipits, but after quite a bit of searching I found a pair of Dartford Warblers which showed quite well in the gorse and heather. A pair of Curlews were displayinhg over a boggy hollow, but I'm not sure they have much chance of breeding successfully with the recreational dog walking and running that now increasingly occurs throughout the area. Most surprising - a Cuckoo calling very loudly, presumably newly-arrived - my earliest ever spring bird.

A day of migration

8 April - misty weather with an easterly drift is usually quite good in spring so I called in at Farmoor looking for Little Gulls (which are very regular here in the right conditions) and hopefully an early Yellow Wagtail. I was successful on both counts, with a bright male Yellow Wag along the causeway and 3 or 4 Little Gulls feeding distantly over F2, including a couple of adults with hoods, very smart with their pinkish wash to the underparts and their dark underwings. The real bonus was over very quickly, there was a short burst of rain and a dark rakish bird suddenly appeared low over F2 heading north, mobbed by Gulls - an Arctic Skua! a dark-phase bird, very raptor-like. It was in view for all of 10 secs or so, I managed a couple of record shots before it vanished into the mist and cloud to the north. I was the only one to see it, although it flew over the heads of 2 other birders on the causeway! A rarity both at Farmoor and in Oxon, with only a few previous records. Also a huge number of hirundines feeding over the reservoir, mostly Sand Martins, a few White Wagtails, and a Common Tern along with a flighty party of 3 Ringed Plovers. The influx of Little Gulls nationwide included CWP - there were 3 birds seen briefly in the afternoon, then a bird that lingered on pit 16 into the evening, an adult moulting into summer plumage.

A good day.........

3 April - A productive day. An early visit a sunny Cleeve Hill before the predicted showers, I couldn’t find any Ring Ouzels ( they were seen later) but a burst of song alerted me to a first-year Black Redstart near the masts. Then a further stop at Farmoor before my Oxford appointment gave views of 500+ Sand Martins, and a very smart summer plumaged Med Gull that I initially picked up by call, a few black primary tips indicating a near-adult rather than fully adult bird. Best of all, a stop at Twitcher’s Gate had me scanning the sky as per usual habit in the idle hope that a migrant Osprey might pass through, initially a pale Buzzard mobbed by Gulls caused a false alarm, then further mobbing calls caused me to look up again and there it was! An Osprey passing over fairly high, no stunning photos as I didn’t pick the bird up til it was flying away but it turned in the distance allowing one or two record shots. One of those adrenaline moments that makes all the time put in so worthwhile. Fortunately Pete Adams had just arrived and also saw the bird. To top things off, the male Garganey then appeared and gave good scope views on the scrape. A good day, and Cleeve will need another visit later in the month!

CWP wader fest

1 April - A quick look around this morning on a beautiful, sunny spring day ........ no less than 10 species of wader logged - Ruff, and Redshank, at both Eysey and Twitcher's Gate, a Dunlin at Eysey, also there Snipe and Oystercatcher plus displaying Lapwings - the Ringed Plover on pit 200 and a Curlew on the scrape at pit 74. LRP and Green Sandpiper also seen. Not very often the wader species log gets into double figures in the Water Park ! ALso a lots of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing. A post-work look at 74 scrape finally gave me good ‘scope views of the pair of Garganey that have been present for a week or so, feeding along the edge of the reeds.....the drake in particular looking very smart in the evening sun.

The first Wheatear!

31 March - The first Wheatear of the spring is always an exciting moment, in this case a very smart male feeding from the fence posts at Blakehill - amazing to think that this bird has made a return trip to Africa before coming back to the UK to breed. Two mobile males present this afternoon, also the Curlew quite vocal but not seen, and a late party of 29 Fieldfares moving east, heading back to the continent to breed. Migration magic and every time it happens I find it just as amazing as the previous year!

Misty Coombe Hill

30 March - A foggy start in the Severn Vale, but when the mist cleared, 3 drake Garganeys and a female roosting, viewed from the Grundon Hide ........ One woke up and gave very good views swimming amongst the vegetation. Also displaying Redshanks and Lapwings, and my first Sand Martin of the spring.

The Oxford “Moors”

28 Mar - On a beautiful early spring morning, firstly, Otmoor...... early songsters including Reed Buntings and Cetti’s Warblers, with Blackcaps joining the Chiffchaffs in good numbers. Displaying Lapwings and Redshanks, a Curlew, and a group of 8 Ruff on Big Otmoor, also 2 flyby Snipe (but none heard drumming). A pair of Marsh Harriers carrying nesting material over the reedbed, Bitterns apparently present but not seen today. At Farmoor, Fairly quiet on the reservoir but a 1st-summer Med Gull feeding on the emerging insects amongst all the Black-headed Gulls, and a Little Ringed Plover on the causeway. At Pinkhill the most surprising sighting was a Barn Owl hunting in full sunlight mid-morning.

Blakehill

25 Mar - An afternoon check on Blakehill revealed no Wheatears yet, but the Short-eared Owl was out well before sunset, giving good albeit distant views. Otherwise fairly quiet apart from the usual Skylark chorus.

CWP waders........

25 Mar - Recent days have been fairly productive for waders in CWP, Pit 200 and Pit 305 (Eysey) are currently looking fairly promising, despite threats of development. Early Little Ringed Plovers on passage have joined Redshanks and Green Sandpipers, pairs of Oystercatchers have been mobile, and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits and two one-day Avocets have been more unusual visitors - a flock of migrant Golden Plovers visited Eysey flood, and Snipe and Curlew have been regular at the lagoon from Twitcher’s Gate. let’s hope for a good spring migrant season.

Owls.........

21 Mar - Both Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl seen out hunting in good light at Blakehill, well before sunset. The Barn Owl was being harried mercilessly by Crows, whereas they left the SEO alone...... why? A small flock of Fieldfares, with a few Redwings mixed in, also seen - presumably on the way east back to Scandinavia. My first Snipe of the year for this site also flew over.

WWT

20 Mar - A short visit to Slimbridge this morning, making the most of early access for members. Excellent views of an obliging Water Rail from Willow Hide, also russet-colored Black-tailed Godwits moulting into summer finery, and displaying Avocets. March is a quiet month, between winter and spring, and the weather can flatter to deceive.

Red Kites

17 Mar - A Red Kite low over the house at midday, possibly a bird on passage as March is the time for spring movement of Red Kites, and I've seen several locally in the last few days, but we also have local breeders so the situation isn't totally clear...... nice to see anyway. Some calmer weather is forecast at last.

Shorncote

15 Mar - A breezy morning, but marginally less gale force than recently. A Great White Egret feeding (next to a Little Egret for comparison) near the hide, a flyby Kingfisher, several Shoveler still present, a male Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail, and several Cetti's warblers and Chiffchaffs singing but keeping low because of the wind.

Mountains Hares and Ptarmigan in winter

11-12 Mar - A guided photographic day arranged with James Roddie, renowned wildlife and landscape photographer in the Scottish Highlands. I was very fortunate with the weather - a week ago, the hills were unseasonably green and were lacking in snow, but winter had returned in the last few days, a suitable scene for the wintry white raiment of the Hares and Ptarmigans to blend in. I awoke to a perfect winter scene of sun rising over snowy hill with mist clinging to the slopes, and snow lacing the tree branches, all lit by the low sunlight. Our original plans to go to the the hills west of Tomatin were stymied by an overturned snowplough on the narrow single-track road, which was quite treacherous with fresh snow, although easily passable. We therefore headed to the Cairngorm ski area which allows easy access to the northern parts of the Cairngorms, and we flanked around Cairn Gorm itself to the coire to the east - here the going was slow, with snow between the boulders up to 2 feet deep making for tiring going, but we soon started to see Mountain Hares in various stages of white, some amazingly concealed in rockpiles, out of the wind, and others out on the slopes and feeding on heather protruding from the snow. Beautiul animals and amazingly hard to see at times, blending in with the wintry landscape. Ptarmigan are usually easy to find here, but we didn't hear their calls and not until we were descending back to the car park did we find 3 birds, unobtrusive amongst the boulders, and well-camouflaged, tending to rely on their colouring rather than flight for their safety. We had close views of both male and female birds. A very successful day, stunning landscapes, with the sun reflecting and dazzling off the snow, and spindrift flowing over the landscape in the wind. We were especially fortunate to get good views and photo opportunities for both species on the same walk, as our planned excursion the next day was cancelled due to forecast very high winds on the mountains. A memorable day of stunning views, light and wildlife activity, in an arctic landscape, but in the UK.

Slimbridge .........

9 Mar - An early morning visit, quite productive in terms of waders with a good number of Curlews out on the Tack Piece, also Redshank and Dunlin. South Lake held displaying Avocets and a flock of Black-tailed Godwits, and the stream outside Hogarth hide a pair of Kingfishers, with a female perched by the nesthole outside the aptly named Kingfisher hide. Very windy, so otherwise quiet around the reserve.

Foray to Catalonia

5-6 March - A short trip to Catalonia with Stephen Christopher of Catalan Bird Tours, excellent at finding the birds and knowing their precise locations as he's guided in the region for many years. The first day was the better weather-wise, we headed up to the Pyrenees and after a short wait with the cloud lifting, we had good views of a Lammergeier as it cruised through the valley and circled several times - the shape, long tail and fairly narrow wings (compared with the more numerous Griffons) gives it a Falcon-like silhouette. We saw the "beard" that gives it the alternative name of "Bearded Vulture" and also watched the bird swoop down to a carcase and pick up a bone to take it and drop it, and eat the marrow inside - fascinating. Also seen - Griffons, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard, with Crested Tit and Firecrest in the pines and Crag Martins circling. The following morning, an early start for the steppes, a plethora of Larks here including several Dupont’s ( heard but not seen) and many Calandras, looking especially large in flight. A short distance away, a cliff has been a regular haunt for a wintering pair of Wallcreepers, and after just a few minutes of scanning we located the male, now beginning to moult into summer plumage. Excellent views, the bird descended to the base of the cliffs and fed at close range, the constant wing- flicking distinctive. A highlight of the trip. Also seen in the area - Black Wheatear, Egyptian Vulture, Little Owl, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, displaying Hen Harriers, and a very obliging Great Spotted Cuckoo, which presented a hairy caterpillar to the female as the ultimate courtship gift. A busy and successful couple of days.

Blakehill

2 Mar - A morning visit to make the best of the sunshine, fairly quiet with a few Meadow Pipits passing and the spring Skylark chorus starting in earnest - the highlight was a Curlew that was feeding on the plateau and flew off north calling, towards CWP. Hopefully one of the breeding birds returning for the spring. A quick check on pit 200 (drained) produced a Redshank, present there for a few days now, and 2 Green Sandpipers.

Cotswolds

26 Feb - A couple of recent late afternoon visits to the Cotswolds during the current fine, warm spell, to a well-known location for Short-eared Owls - the birds emerged both days about 4.30pm, giving good views in the late afternoon / evening sunlight, always exciting to watch with their charismatic slow floating, twisting flight. Two birds emerged within a few minutes of each other, both flying up to a post to preen and look around quizzically before setting off on hunting flight. The low light was excellent for highlighting the subtle mottled plumage of these popular birds. No sign of the Barn Owl which also frequents this area. Also seen - Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, and a flock of c150 Golden Plovers.

Springlike in February.......

26 Feb - A quick revisit to Lower Mill on 25th, and the Yellow-browed Warbler still present and quite active in the sun, and calling occasionally - still impossible to photograph though, as hyperactive! A pair of Kingfishers chasing around at Lower Moor, thinking of nesting? Also Nuthatch, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers calling, and a Snipe on the island. Great crested Grebes displaying on several pits but none near enough for pics, although a nice golden light early in the morning. Reed Buntings all in song, thinking it is spring, hopefully they won't get too much of a shock when the weather returns to normal ? As it is forecast to do very soon .............

CWP Goldies

21 Feb - 4 Golden Plovers flew over Friday's Ham Lane this afternoon with a large Lapwing flock, my first in CWP this winter.

Blakehill

20 Feb - A pleasant late afternoon for a leg-stretch, SEO reported to me as present earlier, but not seen by me - small flocks winter Thrushes on the move, Meadow Pipit and Skylark calling. Also reported this week in the warmer weather is a passage of Stonechats, with up to 11 birds present. ?Spring movement?

Golden Eagles in Winter

15-19 Feb - A group trip to central Sweden to the long-established hides run by Conny Lundstrom, where his local Golden Eagles have been fed in the winter for quite a few years now, and up to 6 different birds are present in the area. It is an amazing set up, he has 2 heated hides overlooking a forest clearing where the Eagles come to feed most days (not guaranteeed!) on carrion placed for them. Transport through the snow-laden landscape is by 4 wheel drive, and optional snowmobile transport takes clients and camera bags to the hides - I preferred to walk through the peaceful forest. It's a long day in the hides as arrival is before dawn so that the Eagles don't see anyone in the area, and you are then in the hide til after dark, so 7am-5pm. We saw Eagles all 3 days, majestic birds and unbelievably big compared with the Magpies and Corvids that hop around them hoping for scraps while the Eagles are down feeding. The Golden Eagles generally land on a pine and survey the area, they are wary and cautious, before descending to feed for 30 mins or so. Their piercing eyes seem to look straight down the cameras lens, but the hide has reflective glass - we had sun, wild and falling snow during our 3 days, so could admire the birds in all light conditions - haughty stare, huge bill, Golden nape, and immense size especially in flight - some individual plumage variation between birds in the amount of white in the plumage, presumably related to age, with immature birds showing more white. An amazing experience to see Golden Eagles so close. During the hours in between their visits, an array of feeders provided entertainment - Willow Tits and Northern Bullfinches prominent, with noisy Jays and Great Spotted Woodpeckers also visiting, along with Grey-headed Woodpeckers that kept their distance. Accommodation and excellent food kept us warm, well worth the trip.

LEOs

14 Feb - or Long-eared Owls to birders, our rarest and most elusive Owl, very nocturnal unlike its Short-eared cousin. I’ve seen a few, but not for several years, and today I managed to tag on a visit to a well-known roost, it being warm and sunny so a good day for the birds to be visible. On arrival several people had the bushes in their scopes, and 2 birds were visible, quite in the open by LEO standards, with a third bird well hidden. I had time to admire the beautiful cryptic plumage, with the orange facial discs, obvious ear tufts and orange eyes which opened sleepily while one of the birds was preening and enjoying the sun. A very good opportunity to see the overall size, shape and plumage of this special bird - rather too distant for the camera unfortunately but excellent scope views. Also good numbers of Red Kites enjoying the weather, including a flock of 12 over a field being worked.