Spoonies, Nordmann’s, Asian Dowitchers etc........

25-31 Jan - A short visit to Thailand courtesy of part of the Wildwings trip, and a flurry of eastern waders with a large supporting cast. Starting at Lam Phak Bia saltpans, huge flocks of eastern shorebird species were wintering, including the “big three” - Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann’s Greenshank and Asian Dowitcher - together with a supporting cast of Marsh Sandpipers, Red-necked and Long-toed Stints, hundreds of Great Knot, with Terek and Broad-billed Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Sandplovers, Pacific Golden and Grey Plovers, and good numbers of Wood Sandpipers and Spotted Redshanks. A coastal boat in the mangroves to a sandspit took us a short way offshore where Caspian and Crested Terns were roosting, and Malaysian and White-fronted Plovers scurried along the beach. In contrast, a couple of days at Kaeng Krachan forest gave us views of Broadbills, Falconets and colourful Woodpeckers, with mammals including very smart Dusky Langurs. As always in forest, myriad birds are calling, and not always seen - exotic species like Malkohas appear then disappear, and feeding flocks move through the canopy. We glimpsed an Indian Elephant at a waterhole from the vehicle, but it moved off immediately. The farmland areas are also very productive, with wet corners and ditches supporting Pond Herons and waders as well as Bee-Eaters and Kingfishers, and a very showy Purple Heron at one spot. The Buddhist culture means there is no or very little hunting, so birds in general are rather confiding. Calling Yellow-browed Warblers in their winter quarters are a reminder of home! A long way to go, but a great trip with many memories, massed wader flocks circling and Painted Storks gliding over in the morning light, as well as 3 Spoon-billed Sandpipers seen feeding at fairly close range, the sewing machine action of the Dowitchers with their black bills, and the ghostly Nordmann’s Greenshanks alongside their commoner cousins. Lots of photos that be sorted.........

More rarities

24 Jan - Another CWP winter rarity, this time a Ring-necked Duck drake, found by Graham Lawlor at Twitcher’s gate - it had moved to an adjacent private pit by the time I got to see it, maybe the same individual as last winter? Also scattered parties of Goosander and Goldeneye.

Warblers and 'crests........

21 Jan - An interesting few days of birding in CWP with a couple of sessions put in.... I've had several views of the Yellow-browed Warbler found recently at Lower Mill/Pit 44, the bird is very active when it appears and must have a feeding circuit - best views today, low down in the willows by the stream, the double wing bar and supercilium seen well alongside the overall small size and very active behaviour. Also Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits present, with a surprise view of a Firecrest in the ivy by the stream, only my second ever in CWP. Frustrating on terms of photography, I got a decent shot of the Firecrest

but haven't had any joy so far with the YBW. I also paid a dusk visit to Shorncote, where, as well as the expected Water Rails and Cetti's Warblers calling, the Barn Owl appeared on cue, albeit not until it was almost dark..... Short-eared Owl also seen locally. Colder weather at the moment, so some secretive species may become more obvious if they get hungrier than usual.

A Gloucestershire Winter’s Day

17 Jan - A rarity by recent standards, a forecast for a sunny, fine winters day. I headed early for Parkend in the Forest of Dean, and at sunrise 8 Hawfinches were perched up in the tall trees in the village. Several of us waited by the seeded area near the Yews and after false alarms and visits by the usual Nuthatches, Coal Tits and Chaffinches, and presaged by whirring flight and “ticking” calls, a single Hawfinch dropped in, no more than 20-25 feet away - a fairly dull bird, maybe a first-winter male, bit with the distinctive huge bill and beady eye. It gave good views for quite a few minutes, but its congeners stayed further away in the beech litter giving binocular views in the low sunlight as they hopped clumsily like small parrots. Disturbance increased as the morning progressed, and I moved up the hill to Parkend church where, despite the crowd of photographers, the local Crossbills flew over calling them, after a wait, dropped in to drink. Later in the afternoon I was in the Cotswolds where 2 elegant Short-eared Owls were hunting in good light before sunset, and were seen to catch a vole - and then as the light faded, a real bonus - a ringtail Hen Harrier came in low and circled before dropping in to roost, and then a Barn Owl flew across just prior to dark. Golden Plover and winter Thrushes also seen during the late afternoon. A very good day.

CWP odds and ends

15 Jan - Cloudy mild weather, the female Scaup still present on pit 132, also a perched Peregrine, 3 Pintail, and a Green Sandpiper. Also another look at the Great Northern Diver on pit 82, which was reasonably close. A pleasant bit of fresh air and exercise.

A Dorset foray

12 Jan - A look around Poole harbour on a group trip, journeying via Lodmoor where the long-staying Lesser Yellowlegs gave some good views on west scrape, always a smart wader to see - also here 2 hunting Marsh Harriers and a few other waders including Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff. A few Mediterranean Gulls were out over the bay, including several smart adults. The Studland peninsula rather quiet as the Sandbanks ferry is currently out of action, so no short cut across from the Bournemouth / Poole conurbation. A dozen or more Black-necked Grebes off Shell Bay and Middle Beach, a Yellow-legged Gull with its commoner cousins, a Great Northern Diver in the harbour, and 16 smart Sanderlings scuttling about at close range on the beach. Brands Bay held a good selection of commoner waders roosting at high tide - Bar- and Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Curlew, Turnstone along with Dunlin and Redshank - also a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and a large number of Pintail. Finally, Middlebere hide gave views of the western end of the harbour - an immature Spoonbill and 2 Avocet were seen here together with another hunting Marsh Harrier. Finally, a Dartford Warbler called on the nearby heath. Numbers of wintering birds are apparently low this year, maybe to do with the mild winter we have had so far, but still a good range of typical coastal species logged. 2019 yearlist = 122.

Blashford HWT

8 Jan - Taking advantage of a sunny forecast, an early arrival at Blashford Lakes for 9am opening. Several people watching the reedbeds expectantly from Ivy North hide - after a few minutes the Bittern walked slowly across the channel in full view then disappeared into the reeds again..... an hour later its head appeared like a periscope in front of us, at least 20 yards away, amazingly it had moved that distance, at close quarters, without disturbing the reeds at all. After scanning and turning its neck several times, the Bittern flew a few yards to the other end of the reeds and once again disappeared from view. Probably my best ever Bittern encounter at close quarters, excellent views, amazing to see this elusive bird so close. Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler and a flyby Great White Egret also seen, as well as several very obliging Siskins at the nearby feeders. En route home, an hour at Lower Moor revealed a bonus Snipe feeding close to the hide, and a brief perched Kingfisher that flew before I could raise the camera. A very successful day.....

CWP winter rush ...........

7 Jan - A busy day in terms of CWP birding - the redhead Smew found yesterday still present, hopefully for the remainder of the winter, maybe the same individual as last year? This bird to me looks as if it could be an immature male. Pits 29/29/30 always the favoured area. Also newly reported today, 3 Whooper Swans with the Mute Swans by the River Thames at Lechlade, probably the birds that were first seen at Hannington Wick in late 2018. I watched the Smew until it was flushed by other "birders" trespassing and getting too close, and had good views of the Whoopers as well.

Weekend.........

7 Jan - Quite a productive weekend, another look at Slimbridge and the Jack Snipe seen but typically elusive as is the norm with this cryptic species. Also a flock of Curlew on the Tack Piece. Good views of Short-eared Owls in the Cotswolds on a calm afternoon, with 3 birds hunting in excellent light and also circling high uttering their distinctive barking calls. A flock of Golden Plover also circling the Cotswolds. In CWP east, I went to see the “other” GN Diver, on pit 126, also here 2 Green Sandpipers. A Peregrine flew purposefully over pit 132 and a Great White Egret fishing at Roundhouse Quarry. The celebrity Jack Snipe at WWT was fittingly my 100th species in the UK for 2019......

New Year cont ..........

3 Jan - A quick wander round Slimbridge on a cold, cloudy afternoon added a few more species to the 2019 list, including several Snipe feeding in the open with a Water Rail, 3 perched Peregrines, the Brent Goose that is currently present, as well as the "classic" flagship winterers at WWT, ie White-fronted Goose and Bewick's Swan - plus some commoner waders, Redshank, Ruff, Oystercatcher and Black-tailed Godwit - but surprisingly no Curlew. Huge numbers of Wigeon and Lapwings on the Dumbles are always a very impressive spectacle.

New Years Day 2019 ...........

Jan 1 - The traditional start to the year list, I managed a couple of hours at the Water Park early morning, then we went with friends to Otmoor late afternoon for the Starling murmuration which was quite impressive, the best I've seen with some nice swirling patterns especially when the flock was buzzed by a female Sparrowhawk. Shorncote and Waterhay area were productive with a couple of Great White Egrets, a calling Water Rail, 3 Green Sandpipers, a pair of Stonechats, several Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers - and the Great Northern Diver was still in residence on pit 82. A good suite of ducks seen including Goldeneye and Goosander. A surprise at Otmoor was a Short-eared Owl - that circled high over the reserve - as well a flock of Golden Plovers and the expected Marsh Harrier quartering the reedbed. A quick stop at Daglingworth en route to Oxford added Brambling and Yellowhammer. Altogether I totalled 76 species, this Jan 1 figure is remarkably constant from year to year and is always between 70 and 80 species for the day. No Pintail or Smew at CWP, and surprisingly no Snipe.