Blows Down and Ivinghoe Beacon

Midday visit to Blows Down and then on to Ivinghoe Beacon.
Blows Down; 2 Wheatear, Mistle Thrush, 6 Meadow Pipit, 4 Chiffchaff, c20 Skylark.
Ivinghoe Beacon; Chiffchaff, 2 Red Kite, Goldcrest.

Forest of Dean

Saturday 19th March 2011. Myself Paul F and Brendan G visited the following sites in the Foest of Dean; New Fancy, Symonds Yat Rock and RSPB Nagshead. First port of call was New Fancy, we arrived at approximately 08:17, nothing much of note for the first 45 minutes except for 3 Goosander in flight, then at a 09:00 we saw the first of 5 or maybe 6 Goshawk, also noted at this site were several Buzzard. Next up was Symonds Yat Rock. On route we noted a Sparrowhawk. First birds noted at Symonds Yat were 2 Nuthatch collecting nesting material, then from the watchpoint we had good views of Peregrine, Raven, Buzzard, Red Kite and up to three Goshawk including one male performing display flight (stunning!,) also noted were 3 Goosander on the river. Next up was RSPB Nags Head, not quite as much excitement as the 2 previous sites but we did note the following; Buzzard, Siskin, Bullfinch (pair,) Nuthatch, Treecreeper (upto 6,) Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 3 Mandarin including 2 summer plumaged males. On the way home we called in at Marlow Gravel Pits where we noted the following; 4 Egyptian Geese, 100+ Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, 2-3 Kingfisher, several Red Kite and a lone Mediterranean Gull.

Updates

Apologies to my vast legion of followers for my lack of updates recently.
Sunday 13th of March I went to Titchwell RSPB with Paul F. Only a few steps onto the reserve we located a perched Marsh Harrier offering good views if a little distant. Almost immediately Paul found a Barn Owl quatering the fields and then perched on a fencepost. Next birds of note were 6+ Pintails including males in summer plumage and Brent Geese. From the smart new hides most noteworthy birds were, Ruff, Redshank, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Bar Tailed Godwit and good numbers of Avocet offering some good photo opportunities for Paul. Also noted was a pale looking Water Pipit, kindly i.d'd for us by an RSPB volunteer, however, we were not able to locate any of the Twite I had seen on a previous visit. From the beach, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Turnstone. Vast rafts of Common Scoter contained 3 Velvet Scoter, also noted were good numbers of Eider including many drakes. On the way back we called in at Foxhole Heath more in hope than expectation of finding Stone Curlew. As soon as I had set up my scope a rather helpfull birder put it straight on a fairly close Stone Curlew (what a very helpfull chap!) Myself and Paul then located one more although 3 were at the site.

Wilstone, Marsworth, Tyttenhanger, Walthamstow.

A morning visit to Tring then London Colney.
Wilstone Reservoir; Water Pipit near jetty towards cemetery corner, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Yellowhammer, Cetti's Warbler (calling.)
Marsworth; Grey Wagtail.
Tyttenhanger; Skylark, Great Black Backed Gull, Common Gull, Oystercatcher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker.  2 Oystercatcher and a female Goosander on fishing lakes.

Later at Walthamstow Marshes. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Ring Necked Parakeet.

Waxwings Again.

On the way home from work 30-40 Waxwings outside 62 The Avenue. There appeared to be 2 distinct groups, half were fairly mobile and often dropping down to eat berries. The other half were perched up and barely moving. Perhaps the second group were "fed up?" 

The Avenue, Waxwings

I went home via The Avenue, Watford today. Outside number 62 there were 60+ highly mobile Waxwings.
Click on pictures to enlarge.

Maple Lodge and Withey Beds

A quick visit to Maple Lodge then Withey Beds. At Maple Lodge; 2 Snipe from rotunda hide, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Kestrel, Ring Necked Parakeet, Song Thrush, Redwing, Wigeon, Teal.
Withey Beds; 2 Bullfinch (pair,) Goldcrest.