Shorncote

27 Feb - The Barn Owl out well before sunset this afternoon, in good light, and at one stage buzzed by a speeding female Peregrine. .....

Bittern........

25 Feb - Always an elusive bird, in CWP as elsewhere. A bird has been booming at a site in CWP for a few days, and I heard it today. A slightly unreal and primeval sound, possibly already breeding in the Water Park as there have been sporadic records in most months of the year. Proving it, and estimating the numbers of birds, will be another matter, although probably more numerous than thought as it's so elusive, especially out of the breeding season. Also 8 Golden Plovers at Eysey.....

Whoopers

24 Feb - Another wet and windy day. 5 Whooper Swans with the Mute flock at Cote near Witney, on a brief stop. Not as impressive as the Whoopers in the sun on the Swedish marshes last week!

Barn Owls........

23 Feb - a second try for the Farmoor “daytime” Barn Owls, and successful this time...... a breezy sunny afternoon, and birds out from 2pm. Close views at times, both perched and quartering the rough ground. Such beautiful birds, all the walkers on the Thames Path were stopping to watch them......

Winter Sweden 17-22 Feb 2020

A winter photography trip with the excellent Daniel Green of birdsafarisweden.com, with whom I have done several previous trips. He has several winter hides set up, with feeding stations, and equipped with heaters and toilets! It has been an exceptionally mild winter in Sweden, as in the UK, and no snow was on the ground in southern Sweden in mid-Feb which is most unusual and unlike my previous winter trips. Because of this, some spring passage was already under way, and we saw flocks of Bean Geese and Whooper Swans moving north. Common Buzzards had also returned early to their breeding areas, which meant that Rough-legged Buzzards had moved and unfortunately we didn't see this species from the customised hide in a converted barn. The Eagle hide is a similar impressive set up with a view over a forest clearing visited by both White-tailed and Golden Eagles. The first day we spent in the hide was beautiful sunny day, and no eagles visited although we had distant views of White-tailed in flight. The second day was a frosty start some mist, then light rain later, and 6 or 7 White-tailed Eagles were in the clearing at dawn (we were in the hide before first light, in order not to flush these very wary birds). We then had some nice flight views of both adult and immature birds, before a subadult bird came down to the bait and spent an hour or so feeding. Superb views of its subtly beautiful plumage and immense size and power. Two subadult Golden Eagles were also around and flew over a couple of times, but did not come down. Excellent to have such prolonged close views of the White-tailed Eagles. A great experience in the hide, with these majestic birds on view for most of the day. The following day I spent alone in the Goshawk hide, overlooking a forest clearing. After a 2 hour wait during which I could hear the Goshawk calling, the male bird suddenly swooped in, and after glaring around for a few minutes proceeded to feed on the bait. a most impressive bird at close quarters. It fed for over an hour! The other big attraction in the Black River Valley area is wintering Owls, numbers of which vary greatly from year to year. This winter, a fairly reliable Hawk Owl has a territory in a forest clearing ad we visited the site on 3 occasions, having views of the bird at times a fairly close quarters. Very atmospheric sitting on a stump in the fading light of a winter evening, its colours cryptically blending in with the spruce stumps. the other attraction is Great Grey Owl, which has a small breeding population in this area, the southernmost in Sweden - we were fortunate to find the bird out hunting one evening, and have views of the amazing facial disc at close quarters. The final highlight before returning home was a bird feeder near a small river valley, near to Vasteras, frequented by a variety of species, but including up to 7 Hawfinches and also a male Brambling. The Hawfinches were surprisingly accommodating if we kept still, perching in the birches and very unobtrusive for such a big finch. A most worthwhile trip. And we did also see a flyover Rough-legged Buzzard!

Winter Glos

12 Feb - For a change, a calm sunny day. I had a bit of info on Bramblings in Cirencester Park, and I headed in from the Sapperton end to an area of stubble. There was indeed a sizeable finch flock in the area, predominantly Chaffinches and Linnets, but containing 10 or so Bramblings, including several quite well marked males. One of my favourite finches, striking and fairly hard to find, especially this year which has been a poor year for them. A male Merlin also flew through low and fast and caused a commotion briefly. In the afternoon, another bit of Owl watching, with both Short-eared and Barn Owls hunting in the sunshine, and a fly by Peregrine. A good raptor day!

Barn Owl........

11 Feb - I like Owls in general, but Barn Owl is one of my favourites, being predominantly nocturnal and therefore a challenge to see, also beautiful with the tawny/gold and white plumage and floating flight. Today the wind dropped below gale force for the first time in several days. and I guessed that the Owls at Shorncote might be hungry, as they've been having a tough time of it in the recent unsettled weather. My hunch proved correct, as two birds emerged half an hour before sunset and started hunting, although never seen particularly close. Always very atmospheric.

Forest of Dean

8 Feb - A sunny fairly calm morning offered a brief respite from the recurrently windy weather. A stop near Parkend church had a good result with 5 or 6 wary Hawfinches in the treetops around the Parkend Beech, initially picked up by their "ticking" calls. Difficult to see perched though, and more obvious in their parrot-like flight. New Fancy view is always reliable for Goshawk, and I saw a displaying male through the scope within 5 mins of arrival. Crabtree had flyover Crossbills, and then Roel Gate several elusive Bramblings with the finch flock on the game strip, but by now the wind had really increased. Then,a further showing from the Park Corner Shrike en route home, complete with the wintering but mobile golden Plover flock seen in flight over the A417. Finally, I was fortuitously at Pit 16 trying to photograph the Black-necked Grebe when Dave Creber found a Ring-billed Gull in the roost amongst the Common Gulls - pale eye, ringed bill and heavy chest / slightly larger size distinctive. A good day!

Blakehill

4 Feb - A couple of visits this week. The astonishing sight of 82 (!) Magpies congregating to roost was a highlight of sorts ……….Otherwise, Stonechats always a delight to see, Snipe on the plateau, wary Fieldfares and Redwings, and a Red Kite over. So much windy weather at the moment …...

Dix Pit

1 Feb - A trip to Dix Pit near the Stanton Harcourt recycling centre..... this pit was thronged with a huge raft of duck. I could not locate the redhead Smew that has been seen on and off, but a drake Garganey has been present during the winter and is starting to moult into summer plumage. Also a further 3 Scaup here, plus a brief flock of Siskins in the alders.