Lockdown week 1

30 Mar - The highlights locally are undoubtedly the Curlew that have returned to Blakehill and are currently displaying - at least 2 birds present, and their bubbling call is frequently heard, as they display across the plateau or feed in the nearby pasture. Apart from the Skylark chorus, Meadow Pipits are on the move in varying numbers. Green Woodpecker seen feeding on the mound on one day, Buzzards and Kestrels around with the odd Red Kite drifting over.

Coronavirus Lockdown

24 Mar - today severe restrictions were placed on travel by the Government, to try to slow the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK. One of the impositions, totally rightly in my opinion, allows us to leave home only for permitted exercise once daily. This will restrict me to cycling or walking to Blakehill and adjacent areas of CWP, so this spring will be unlike any other in that the focus on observing the unfolding spring migration will be on my local area. A unique opportunity, health and other commitments permitting, to focus on these local observations during the spring period, with visits most days to the same small areas - I'm fortunate to have such a variety of habitats and wildlife areas within local reach.

Pre-lockdown

23 Mar - with lockdown imminent, I opted for a solo walk on the northern edge of the New Forest in an area I've been to before, to hopefully see one of my favourite birds, Dartford Warbler - as visits will likely be off limits for the rest of the spring. In sunny weather, singing birds were obvious and active and I saw at least 5 very smart males perched up singing, and a couple of females flitting in the gorse. Stonechats also numerous, but surprisingly Skylark, but no Woodlarks, seen.

Scotland 20-22 Mar 2020

A short photographic trip, pre-planned but undertaken in the light of an evolving national crisis with the continuing spread of coronavirus in the UK, and consequent forthcoming travel restrictions to limit and slow its spread. I travelled with a bit of trepidation but I was not going to be in contact with anyone and was less at risk (and less of a risk to others) in the open spaces than when at home. I travelled up the A82 with blue skies and snow on the mountains - a stunning, wintry combination, which I had never really seen before. Difficult to capture with the camera but I tried, with SLR and iPhone. The Black Mount looked especially majestic with Loch Tulla in the foreground. The roadside loch at Glencoe held 3 Black Guillemots, plus Red-breasted Merganser and Eider, with Hooded Crows on the foreshore. My first photo day was in Mark Hamblin's Red Squirrel hide, and I had up to 8 Red Squirrels present at any one time, always hard to capture with their rapid movement. Also visiting were a variety of birds including Treecreeper and, best of all, a Crested Tit. Flocks of Pink-footed Geese were moving back north at regular intervals, calling as the migrated. A morning here was followed by an afternoon trip up to Elgin on the Moray coast, where I had very goods views of the wintering drake King Eider (with a small group of Common Eiders), along with small numbers of Long-tailed Ducks and a couple of Red-throated Divers. Waders included Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank and Turnstone. Also present were a flock of 11 Pale-bellied Brent Geese. The last day was a Mountain Hare foray to the Monadhliaths with the excellent James Roddie. We had brilliant views of 7 or 8 Hares, mostly still in their white winter pelage, with 3 together around a snow patch, resting and washing their coats and staying perfectly relaxed at fairly close range. Two of them at one point even indulged in a brief bout of boxing. Ravens and the first arriving Meadow Pipits were seen, but no Eagles, Buzzards being the next best on offer. Perfect weather with weak sunlight filtering through the clouds and highlighting the remaining snow. A memorable experience.....

Blakehill flyby

17 Mar - A pleasant bright morning for a wander round Blakehill, the definite highlight was a female Merlin that I flushed from a Hawthorn, which very obligingly perched on a fence post within range for a minute or so before flying off after a Meadow Pipit then disappearing westwards. One of my best Merlin views ever. Also 2 flyover Shelduck, a Blakehill rarity!

Barn Owl

15 Mar - The best way to celebrate - an hour or so of Barn Owl watching in late afternoon sunlight, the bird always fairly distant but nice views of the amazing buoyant flight.

Glos jaunt

14 Mar - A trip out. My annual visit to the river near Stroud Waitrose usually gives good views of Dipper. This time the birds were very obliging - carrying nesting material and flying under the bridge with it, as well as feeding along the river edge and at one stage posing fairly nicely. Always a great bird to see - amazing how it can walk under the water, and close its adapted eyelids against the spray. Also seen here, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. Then on to Slimbridge, where a reported Spoonbill led me a merry dance between the hides til I finally caught up with it from the Estuary tower - A subadult bird, still a bit of black on the primaries but otherwise a crest and a yellow-tipped bill like an adult. Then home via CWP where a Cattle Egret, in partial breeding plumage, was at Ashton Keynes with Little Egrets - and a Pink-footed Goose with the Greylag flock by Pit 75. A good day.

Slimbridge

7 Mar - 2 Water Rails continuing to show very well under the feeders at Willow hide, outstanding views for such a secretive species. A pair of Oystercatchers, 12 Avocets giving a hint of spring, and a pair of Kingfishers at the nesthole in front of the aptly-named Kingfisher hide. A pre-dusk Barn Owl at Shorncote on a quick stop-off.

CWP cont ..........

4 Mar - A couple of recent visits to CWP A flock of 35 or so Golden Plover in flight over the floods at Eysey and the Thames, and the spring passage Shelducks starting to arrive. A flock of 8 Snipe flew over Shorncote - Water Rails still numerous there especially with the current flooding, and 2 Kingfishers in courtship feeding. Cetti's Warblers singing, but as usual not seen!

A solitary Waxwing......

2 Mar - Having seen a flock of Waxwings in Scotland in Jan, I didn't rush to head off to Evesham for the single bird that turned up there a few days ago. However, a sunny day tempted me and the bird was fairly obliging, although always tending to hide behind a clump of berries. However it was an adult bird, presumably a male as it has nice "wax" markings on the wings. Photos duly obtained. Typical Waxwing habitat - in a solitary rowan between a railway line and a car dealer!