Woodoaks and Withey

Yesterday morning at Woodoaks; Yellowhammer, Skylark, Fieldfare, Redwing, Ring-necked Parakeet, Common Buzzard, Snipe (over).
Withey Beds; Green Woodpecker, Great-spotted Woodpecker (3), Ring-necked Parakeet, Redwing, Bullfinch (pair).

Welsh Success

A return trip to Rhiwderin near Newport, Gwent with Tony, Brendan and Paul. This time we managed to connect with the highly elusive Common Yellowthroat. We had to wait a couple of hours to see and viewing was not easy. The stunning yellow bird spent most of the time skulking deep in and low down in bracken, occasionally teasing us with a brief appearance.

Next we visited a fast flowing stream in the general area and connected with a pair of Dipper busily nest building.

From the Dipper's we visited Cosmeston Country Park where we quickly connected with a drake Lesser Scaup.

Finaly an hour or so spent in the Cardiff Bay area failed to produce the reported Bonaparte's Gull. We did note the following; Shelduck, Pintail, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Curlew.

Paul Frost's pics below

Eggplant Lane

3 Common Buzzard, 3 Fieldfare, c16 Linnet, Red Kite, Green Woodpecker.

Brambling roost at Penn Wood

A late afternoon visit to Penn Wood with Paul F. We watched an area of rhodedendrons as in excess of 50 Brambling flew in to roost. Also noted; Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Raven, Tawny Owl calling and a probable Woodcock was flushed on our walk back to the car.

Bramblings at Penn Wood

My birding pal Paul Frost paid a visit to Penn Wood this evening to view the Brambling roost. He captured the image's below.

Eggplant Lane

A pleasant early morning stroll around Eggplant Lane, just outside the M25 between Abbots Langley and Bedmond. The following birds were noted; Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Skylark, Lesser-black Backed Gull, Kestrel, Common Buzzard (mobbed by Carrion Crows), Red Kite (mobbed by the same Carrion Crows). Some poor quality pics below.

Tree Sparrows

An early morning visit to Tyttenhangar Gravel Pits with Paul F; 4 Tree Sparrow, 3 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge.

Sat 18th Feb 2012. A day of dipping.

A trip across the Severn Bridge with Tony S, Brendan G and Paul F. Our target bird was the recently reported Yellowthroat, however, after spending all morning standing in a muddy field with a couple of hundred other birders for we drew a blank. Bullfinch and Nuthatch were no consolation!

On our way back home we decided to call in at Bray gravel pit's in the hope of connecting with Ferruginous Duck. You can guess the result. To make matters worse, shortly before arriving at Bray the Yellowthroat was reported.

Next stop was Beaconsfield Landfill site. On the way from Bray to Beaconsfield we counted 30 Red Kite. Over the tip we added another 42 Red Kite. Gulls; Great black-backed, Lesser black-backed, Common, Herring and Yellow Legged (Brendan Only) We all got soaked just for good measure.

Springwell and Inns

Yesterday morning at Springwell and Inns Lakes.
Springwell; 3 Bullfinch (1m, 2f), Goldcrest, Pochard, Goldeneye.
Inns, Goldeneye.

Scotsbridge Mill and Woodoaks Farm

Scotsbridge Mill;  2 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, Grey Wagtail.

Woodoaks Farm; Fielfare, Redwing, 16 Yellowhammer, 20 Skylark, 2 Lapwing, 8 Golden Plover, Kestrel, Ring-necked Parakeet.

Hogsback Wood and Beaconsfield Landfill Site in Bucks then later at Deadman's Hill, Herts.

A mornings birding in Bucks with Paul F. A pleasant morning but not many birds to report.

Hogback Wood; Red Kite, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Redwing, Fieldfare, Siskin, Goldcrest.

On route to Beaconsfield; Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, Egyptian Goose.

Beaconsfield Landfill Site, On arrival we noticed a guy hawking with a Harris Hawk then setting off bird scarers so no decent views of the gulls. The only birds of note were 30+ Red Kite and a couple of Buzzard.

Late afternoon at Deadman's Hill with Brendan G; Merlin, 4 Common Buzzard, 2 Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Yellowhammer, Grey Partridge, Red-legged Partridge, Green Woodpecker.

Paul's Red Kite's at Beaconsfield Landfill site below.

Penn Wood

A mid morning visit to Penn Wood with Paul F; Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Buzzard.
Paul's Coal Tit and Treecreeper pics below.

Scotsbridge Mill

A visit to Scotsbridge Mill this morning; 2 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, Grey Wagtail. Also of note 10+ Wren.

Marsworth

An early evening visit to Marsworth Reservoir with Paul F; Bittern, Water Rail.

Dipped Dipper

A planned trip to Norfolk had to be cancelled because of the forcasted bad weather in the east of England. Dave J was also concerned about travelling to meet us from central london due to severe disruption to train services. So Brendan and myself visited four sites with mixed results.

Little Linford Wood; Bullfinch (3), Treecreeper (2), Nuthatch (2).

Linford Nature Reserve near Milton Keynes; Willow Tit (2), Marsh Tit (2), Siskin (12).

New Mill nr Witney; No sign of Dipper seen last sunday, Red Kite (2).

Hedgerley Landfill site near Gerrards Cross; Great black-backed Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, c30 Red Kite.

All three of yesterdays target birds were reported today!
pics below Marsh Tit at Linford and Wren where Dipper should have been.

West Sussex without success

A day out in bright and sunny but very cold West Sussex with Paul F. We had three target birds; Paddyfield Warbler at Pagham Harbour, Great White Egret at Thorney Island and Parrot Crossbill at Black Down. Unfortunately we failed to connect with any of our targets.

Pagham Harbour; Wigeon, Pintail, Shelduck, Brent Goose, Golden Plover, Redshank, Yellowhammer, Common Buzzard.

Thorney Island; Greenshank, Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Grey Plover, Common Snipe, Brent Goose, Black-tailed Godwit, Red-breasted Merganser, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit.

Black Down; Common Crossbill, Stonechat, Treecreeper, Goldcrest.
Crossbill record shot below

Short-eared Owls at Otmoor

I spent the last hour of daylight today at RSPB Otmoor with Paul F. On the walk from the car park I noted 8 Bullfinch. Then whilst waiting for the Owls to show; Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Red Kite, Fieldfare. Then in the failing light and just as we were about to give up; 3 Short-eared Owls showed well for 10-15 minutes hunting over the ditches either side of the main footpath.

Wendover Woods then Marsworth Reservoir

An afternoon visit to Wendover Woods; 10+ Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, Marsh Tit.

Half an hour before sunset at Marsworth Reservoir; c75 Corn Bunting.

2 Goldcrest and 2 Marsh Tit pics below. Click on pics to enlarge.