Winter birds

9 Dec - A return visit to Ozleworth in sunny conditions, and the flock of Bramblings still present though rather elusive (4,5). The CWP still largely frozen (1,2) and a male Smew (3) now present on pit 29, with a redhead on pit 30 and 3 redheads on pit 44. No sign of the Bittern on pit 44 (seen a few days ago) prior to dusk, but an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the ice.

Bramblings and Smew - again

4 Dec - I had a look at the crop field at Ozleworth near Dursley this afternoon, very good views of the large Brambling flock (50+, top), together with Linnets and Chaffinches, but the light was too poor for any photography. The birds were quite flighty, up and down into the hedge and treetops as well as feeding out of sight in the field. Some very bright male Bramblings were present, and the nasal call was very distinctive.
A quick look at the CWP on the way home, the pits still being largely iced up (2nd photo, pit 41, JM). 2 redhead Smew (3rd) were on pit 29, and a total of 25 Goosander (lower), with 19 birds on pit 30. 11 species of duck seen but no Pintail found, which I've previously seen in small numbers in hard weather. The air temperature +3 today but only partial thawing of the ice and snow.

Smew arrive in CWP

3 Dec - An hour or two in the bitter cold this afternoon, with snow and ice on the ground (photo, anon) and the redhead Smew (lower) is still on pit 29 in the Wilts section of CWP, with 7 Goosander (6 drakes and a redhead) on pit 30. In the Glos section, a group of 4 redhead Smews were diving actively on pit 114 at Dudgrove, probably newly arrived on the easterly winds. Many pits are partly frozen. Tufted Duck and Pochard seen in reasonable numbers, with good numbers of Shoveler - 26 on pit 57 and 12 on pit 114 - also a few Goldeneye, Wigeon and Gadwall.

Waxwings in Swindon

28 Nov - a grapevine message came through early afternoon with news of a small flock of Waxwings in Grange Park, Swindon, and within a few minutes I saw 8 birds sitting in a treetop, distinctive silhouette and crest, but they were mobile and flying around the area. Hopefully they will stay as there were some berry bushes nearby. Photos, upper copyright Tony Martin, lower copyright Steve Davies.

Bramblings and then CWP

27 Nov - a dull, cold day with some snow flurries, but a productive couple of hours. First I checked out Witcombe Woods, were I have seen Brambling (upper) in previous years, and was surprised to find a small flock straight away - 15+ birds, mostly males, with a few Chaffinches. Good views of the birds perched, and heard calling.
I then returned via CWP, where 10 Goosander were on pit 44 (9m) and 4 (1m ) on pit 30. Best of all, a redhead Smew had returned to pit 29, the same area as last year (middle photo from winter 09-10, JM).
I spent the last 45 mins of daylight at Shorncote, where I did not see the Short-eared Owl, but the Barn Owl gave good views instead. A real bonus was a male Merlin (lower) that landed briefly on top of a hedge before flying off SW and showing its small size, fairly short squarish tail and grey upperparts. Possibly the bird seen recently at Blakehill? The regular Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail were heard calling here. Another winter dusk with penetrating cold (top, Shorncote reedbeds, JM).

South Coast briefly

21 Nov - an overnight stay with family enabled me to return home via the south coast - first stop Keyhaven where the flock of Lapland Buntings (lower pic) has been present for several weeks. After a short wait, I saw and heard 2 birds in flight, with distinctive rattling call and large size. I then had brief views of one on the ground in the stubble field. Also present at Keyhaven - Brent Geese, 5 Little Egrets, Redshank, Curlew, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal.
Then I had excellent views of the 1st-winter Long-billed Dowitcher at Lodmoor, right in front of the viewing mound (upper photo, JM). Snipe-like long bill and overall shape, with delicate brown/buff markings. 1st-winter Med Gull and Peregrine also seen at Lodmoor.

Scottish winter birding 19-20 Nov

20 Nov - not good weather for Munros, but fine for birding. My first stop was the Slamannan area where after a bit of searching I located the wintering flock of Taiga Bean Geese (1) and counted 95 - very wary birds, craning their necks and watching me from a distance of at least half a mile. My first ever sighting of this subspecies, as the single birds that turn up in the south of England are usually Tundra Beans. I then headed for Musselburgh and the Firth of Forth - an excellent selection of wintering birds here on the rising tide, including 4-5 smart drake Long-tailed Ducks (8), 50+ Velvet Scoters (7), Common Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Eiders, a flyby redhead Smew, a Red-throated Diver (4) and a Slavonian Grebe (5). Waders included hundreds of Knot, and smaller numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and Dunlin. A flock of 200+ Waxwings (2) flew over Musselburgh town centre but didn't land.
John Muir country park near Tyninghame has a wintering flock of Shorelarks (3) this year, and I had good views of 10 birds feeding on the saltmarsh at fairly close range, together with a mobile flock of 150+ Twite with their distinctive nasal calls. Also seen here were 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, with more Grey Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits.
Gosford Bay and Gullane Bay near Aberlady are well-known for their wintering duck, Grebes and Divers, and scanning in the persistent drizzle produced a total of 12 Long-tailed Duck, including some close views of drakes - 6 Slavonian Grebes, a Red-necked Grebe (6), a Black-throated and 2 Red-throated Divers were also seen. Other birds seen during the day included Brambling, Redpoll, Siskin and Rock Pipit.
An excellent tally for a winters day with some wind and rain and limited daylight hours.