Reflections on 2009

31 Dec - the end of another year. Some outstanding memories - the Russian Far East, amazing remote scenery and some iconic species like Steller's Sea Eagle and Whiskered Auklet - as well as some highly desired species for me - Pechora Pipit and Lancy. Namibia was another outstanding trip - stunning scenery - my last Crane sp (Wattled) much wanted - also Pel's Fishing Owl, African Skimmer, Rockrunner and Caspian Plover. My UK highlight was probably the twitch for Britain's first Eastern Crowned Warbler at South Shields. Here's to 2010!

CWP still iced up

26 Dec - a brief look around the CWP for some bracing boxing day fresh air, and the Smew are still on pit 29, this morning, including a smart drake with the 5+ redheads (above). Also there, a drake Pintail and 150+ Red-crested Pochards. A Cetti's warbler and a calling Water Rail were at Waterhay, and 2 drake Goosander on pit 44 at Somerford Keynes.

The Red-breasted Merganser at Coate

24 Dec - these excellent photos were taken by Graham Cox today.

Red-breasted Merganser at Coate

24 Dec - a quick visit to Coate Water in the afternoon of Christmas Eve gave views of the female Red-breasted Merganser, present with the Goosander flock in the ice-free part of the lake near the dam. My first Wiltshire bird apart from a fly-by in the CWP.

CWP freeze-up continues

19 Dec - a lunchtime walk, in winter sunshine, around a few pits produced a good selection of wildfowl - pit 41 held 11 Pintail, 20 Shoveler, 25 Gadwall, 7 Goldeneye and large numbers of Wigeon and Teal. A Chiffchaff and 2 Siskins were also seen. 3 Goosander were on pit 44. The Wilts section still held 5 redhead Smew, 4 on pit 29 and 1 on pit 30. Goosander totalled 5 on these pits. The lake edges are frozen up.

CWP again

18 Dec - a brief visit to CWP in the current very cold conditions, sunny with a raw east wind. Pit 29 held 5 redhead Smew, and 8 Goosander including 4 males were on pit 30. 2 Chiffchaffs flitted in the lakeside vegetation. Pit 74 produced 2 flyover Curlew, and wildfowl there included 7 Shelduck and 8 Goldeneye.

GNDs on pit 125 at CWP

17 Dec - a very cold, sunny day and the 2 Great Northern Divers still on pit 125 in the eastern CWP - one of them the pit 104 bird? diving actively,also loafing and preening in the sunlight. 20+ Siskins also seen in a mixed finch flock.