Great Northern Diver, Sibe, and other Recent Highlights

Sunday 20th January - Sunday 3rd February 2013
The adult Great Northern Diver - a smart bird acquiring breeding plumage
I started the morning's birding off, with Mark H, at Pitville Park in Chemltenham, where the GREAT NORTHERN DIVER,  was thankfully still present for its fourth day on the boating lake. We stopped briefly at Hester's Way, where 33 Waxwings, were present atop a tree in Hester's Way Road. After the diver, we pressed on to the Cotswold Water Park. Here at Shorncote, the SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF showed well briefly for us, in the company of two common Chiffchaffs. The 'Sibe' also called a couple of times putting the ID beyond doubt. Also here, two Cetti's Warblers, a Goldcrest, a Water Rail, and two Snipe. I returned to Pitville Park this afternoon hoping for better light, and better photos, but it was still pretty dull; still this is a super bird even in poor light.
With a tasty Perch
This beautiful photo taken by Mark Dowie on Saturday shows the bird in all its glory, bathed in sunshine
Yesterday's sightings at Highnam Woods with Andy included a LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER, drumming and seen briefly either side of the ridge footpath west of the pinetum. Also in the woods, six drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Green Woodpeckers, two Ravens, two Stock Doves, three Nuthatches, and at the hide feeders, two Marsh Tits. It is such a shame the car park is being closed by the RSPB from Monday, but I understand the reasons.

Other recent sightings
Sunday 20th January
Garden - 4 Fieldfares, 1 Coal Tit
Frampton - 2 (pair) Goldeneye on Townfield Lake, a Waxwing in the pines near Court Lake, c30 Siskins in Alders, and seven Bramblings and a Reed Bunting at Nastfield Farm.
Garden Fieldfare
Friday 25th January
WWT - two Tundra Bean Geese  (ad. and first-winter) on The Dumbles
Adult Tundra Bean Goose, WWT
First-winter Tundra Bean Goose, WWT
Saturday 26th January
A trip to the Cotswold Water Park with Andy and Mark produced on pit 44 seven Smew (two drakes), a redhead Goosander, 27 Red-crested Pochards, and a a Goldcrest.

Sunday 27th January
My RSPB Garden Birdwatch hour produced five Siskins and 17 Greenfinches.

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