CWP

27 Jan - A morning visit to Pit 82, where the drake Scaup found by Nigel Pleass at the weekend was still present, and offering a good comparison with the Tufted Ducks in the flock. Goosander and Red-crested Pochard also seen around CWP.

Scotland 24-26 Jan 2020

A short visit to coincide with my first Munro trip of the year, which surprisingly coincided with the only snow-free weekend of the winter, so my crampons skills weren't tested...…. On arrival I headed to the First of Forth. Having quickly picked up the resident drake Surf Scoter, offshore from Musselburgh with a few Velvets, I picked up the news that the drake American White-winged Scoter had been located a mile or so west, off Joppa. I was there in time for good views, again with a small flock of Velvets so direct comparison of head and bill shape could be made. Much better views than I had the previous time I saw it. Long-tailed Duck, Eider and distant Common Scoter were also seen, along with Red-breasted Merganser, with a good selection of waders off Musselburgh including Bar-tailed Godwits. Glenfinnan the next days was very quiet bird-wise, only Raven being noted, but spectacular in the winter mist and stillness. Then on 26th a successful Waxwing chase, with at least 48 birds feeding in the unlikely surroundings of Falkirk, in isolated Rowans near a shopping centre - as typical location! Dull weather, but I spent a couple of hours enjoying the sight and sound of these spectacular birds as they swooped in to feed on berries every few minutes, and retreated to preen in between. I was the only person watching them, whereas in the south of England I would have been jostling for space ....

Slimbridge and around........

18-19 Jan - A sunny winter's day. amazing close views of 2 Peregrines passing at speed near the new Estuary Tower, and good views of 2 Water Rails at the Willow hide feeders. Plus the usual winter throngs of birds. The Great Grey Shrike obliged again at Park Corner, as did the Cotswold Short-eared Owls in the sun. Always atmospheric to see and hear Fieldfares and Redwings around the hedges especially when the low light catches their plumage.

Shorncote

16 Jan - Being at Shorncote for dawn resulted in seeing the Barn Owl return to its roosting tree at 7.25 am. Water Rails were calling, and 2 Snipe flew over.

Blakehill

15 Jan - My first visit for a while, and (presumably) one of the CWP Marsh Harriers drifted over the plateau. Maybe its usual hunting areas are waterlogged? Good to see and a rare bird at Blakehill. Also Sparrowhawk and the usual Stonechats, and a big flock of Lapwings (c400) over Chelworth. Unfortunately the Short-eared Owl has not been seen since the end of 2019, presumably due to a lack of voles, as Kestrels are also conspicuous by their absence this winter......

CWP revisited

14 Jan - 2 Marsh Harriers hunting together from Twitcher's Gate. An unsuccessful search for Smew produced a good total of 16 Goldeneye, including 10 males, on Dudgrove Pit 114.

CWP

13 Jan - A wintering Lesser Whitethroat has been found along the stream at Shorncote by Kim Milsom - possibly of the eastern race although we will never know for certain. It is very elusive, giving brief views as it feeds low in the streamside vegetation. Also in CWP, a wintering Black-necked Grebe found on Pit 16 by Graham Lawlor, it is keeping to the centre of the pit but fine to view through the scope. 2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls at Eysey.

Gloucestershire .........

11 Jan - A morning detour to Daglingworth (Park corner quarry) resulted in excellent views of the Great Grey Shrike, perched up intermittently fairly close to the road. Slimbridge was again productive, the Cattle Egret was on the causeway at South Lake and the first 4 Avocet of the year were also present. I logged Ruff for the year, and Water Rail under the Willow hide feeders. And I never tire of seeing Bewick's Swans during the 3 months they spend with us every winter.

Eastern vagrant Thrush........

8 Jan - A repeat visit to Whipsnade where a vagrant male Black-throated Thrush has been giving very good views, faithful to its berry tree which it is guarding from all-comers. Fortunately the bird was still present and my views were much better than in the fog before Christmas. A stunning bird, Fieldfare-sized with a shiny black throat and upper chest, and now fairly confiding as it has got used to its daily throng of admirers, mostly armed with cameras and lenses. Well worth the repeat trip to get such good views and photo opportunities...… a stop at Otmoor on the way home produced my first Barn Owl of the year, the expected Marsh Harriers, and a large flock of Golden Plovers and Lapwings, but no other raptors, as the Starling murmuration has dispersed very early this year.

Cleveland Lakes

6 Jan - A very flooded area on the walk to, and around the reed hide. A big flock of Egrets on the floods, with a good comparison of the GW Egret dwarfing its Little cousins. 4 Snipe flushed from the floods by an overflying Marsh Harrier. Sparrowhawk logged for the year, with a close perched male. No sign of the Dippers reported on the stream.....Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler, singing Chiffchaff also logged.

Barrow Gurney trio

5 Jan - A bright but quite breezy morning. There is currently an impressive trio of wintering birds at Barrow Gurney. The returning drake Long-tailed Duck that has wintered here for several years now was looking as smart as ever, in stunning winter regalia. Nearby on the largest tank, a Great Northern Diver has been joined by its rarer (inland at least) cousin, a Black-throated Diver - both were surprisingly difficult to locate on the slightly choppy water, but gave good comparisons in the end, the Black-throat being more compact and smaller in size, also showing its distinctive white thigh patch. A couple of Common Sandpipers are also wintering here and flew with typical fluttering, bowed wings.

Farmoor

2 Jan - A quick stop at Farmoor gave nice close views of the smart, winter-plumaged Slavonian Grebe that has been on F2 for a few days now, and the 2 female-type Greater Scaup still with the Tufted flock on F1.

New Years Day 2020

A cloudy but dry and calm day to start the 2020 list. First stop the Water Park, Shorncote in winter is reliable for Little Egret, Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler and these were all logged (although I was too late for the Barn Owl). Stonechat, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail also here, with winter Thrushes and a Green Woodpecker. Pit 56 holds Goosander and 5 were present, also a few Siskins calling. Red-crested Pochard on Pit 44 then to Twitcher's Gate, where Great White Egret and a hunting female Marsh Harrier were on view on the same scope view! good numbers of Pintail and Shoveler have been on this pit recently, possibly related to the flooding this winter around the Thames area and fields in CWP. At Daglingworth, c180 Golden Plovers circled calling mournfully, but the Park Corner Great Grey Shrike was not on view. On to WWT Slimbridge - the usual suspects went on the list here - Bewick's Swan,White-fronted Goose, plus a bonus of 8 Pink-footed Geese that have been wintering. Commoner waders included Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank. The Frampton Tawny Owl was not at home, but a late afternoon detour to the Cotswolds produced 3-4 Short-eared Owls hunting. A Tawny Owl calling at home after dark gave a total for the day of 92 species.....