Garden visitors.......

Feb 23 - The regular pair of Long-tailed Tits still visiting the garden daily, and especially liking the suet feeder. Also my Robin is now singing especially early mornings, an integral part of the dawn chorus.

Shorncote revisited.......

Feb 22 - A morning visit before the rain. Water levels have dropped, but 150+ Wigeon present along with 30+ Teal, 6 Gadwalls and a pair of Shoveler. I finally saw one of the mythical Shorncote Water Rails briefly in the open.....and heard several more. A large flock of 250+ Lapwings passed over, a Green Sandpiper was on the stream and a Snipe called. A taste of spring despite the temperatures with Skylark, Song Thrush and 3 Reed Buntings singing, along with 3 Cetti's Warblers. 2 Chiffchaffs along the stream but no sign of the wintering Siberian Chiffchaff, nor of the Grey Wagtail or Stonechat. A flock of 150+ Fieldfares/Redwings around the playing fields, and the Little Owl in the usual pollarded willow. A stop at pit 74 gateway on the way home produced a count of 35 Shoveler and 6 Pintail (4 drakes) on the scrape, as the forecast rain started.

Short-eared Owl spectacular.........

Feb 21 - Really stunning views late afternoon of up to 4 Short-eared Owls at Hawling, with perfect light for photography, low winter sun highlighting the birds against the shower clouds. A memorable experience, with the birds hunting, hovering, sparring and perched. Quite a few photographers present. Also seen 100+ Golden Plover with 150+ Lapwing in flight.

Bramblings!

Feb 20 - I thought I'd follow up a report of Bramblings at Barrow Wake, Birdlip - A finch flock under the trees by the Birdlip turning was feeding under the beeches in the fenced off (therefore less disturbed) area - and indeed with 30 or so Chaffinches were at least 5 Bramblings, including several smart males. Viewing from the car allowed close views, the birds however being surprisingly difficult to spot in the leaf litter. Reasonable photos but I hope to return again. Bramblings have been very scarce locally this winter, and apart from a female in the Forest of Dean these are my first of the season. Another of my favourite species.

Pre-spring......

Feb 18 - The makings of a dawn chorus early morning today...Blackbird, Song Thrush and Robin, with the first singing Greenfinch I've heard locally for a couple of years.......

Sunny early morning in the Forest.......

Feb 17 - A pre-work trip to the Forest of Dean as a perfect sunny late winter's day. At Brierley I picked up a Hawfinch sitting unobtrusively in the canopy til it flew off, then at Serridge Ridge a female Brambling was with 30+ Chaffinches around the beech area. Only one seen though, numbers seem very low this winter. A large finch flock flying around the larches contained a mixture of Redpolls and Siskins, totalling at least 100 birds. Wenchford gave nice views of Marsh Tit and Nuthatch.

New Fancy View gave a superb panorama in the sunshine and a Goshawk was seen immediately on arrival, perched and then in display flight, alongside several Buzzards. 2 Ravens and 4 Siskins also flew over here. Finally, a quick check at Wenchford did not reveal any Dippers, but obliging Marsh Tits and Nuthatches posed for the camera at the feeder. Year list 137. Photos JM.

Savernake and Blakehill........

Feb 14 - A morning look at Savernake.........I couldn't find any Bramblings, or indeed Finch flocks, but good numbers of woodland birds, including Marsh Tit, Jay, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. The pools at Froxfield alongside the A4 held a Little Egret.

Late afternoon, good views of 2, possibly 3, Short-eared Owls at Blakehill. Also here 150+ Fieldfares and Redwings.