Paul's Birding Diary

Sunday 14th - Sunday 28th February 2010 A bit of a catch-up this. Today at WWT I finally saw the female Ring-necked Duck which I had just about given up on, after missing its earlier showings; thanks to Rich Tyler for pointing it out this morning on the Long Ground Pool. I got the other American duck on Friday, the Green-winged Teal , which was showing on the Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide at 4:40pm. In the garden, up to five Lesser Redpolls continue to visit the feeders (above and below) as do male and female Blackcaps and at least one female Great Spotted Woodpecker . Other recent highlights have been: Sunday 14th A circular walk from Longborough to Bourton-on-the-Hill produced a nice little party of four Tree Sparrows at the top of Bean Hill, Longborough. A pair of Ravens were in Sezincote gardens. It was a great walk, but did mean I missed the aforementioned RND which meanwhile had been giving close views at WWT. Monday 15th An early flying visit to WWT hoping to see the RND ...

Friday 12th - Saturday 13th February 2010 I been catching up with a couple of the scarcer county goose species recently. Yesterday afternoon (Friday) the Pink-footed Goose was at Inglesham near Lechlade, with 87 Canada Geese and five Greylags alongside the River Thames, luckingly in Glos, at SU206987 (photos above and below). There's also a short video I took here . Earlier at Hawling two Tree Sparrows , six Corn Buntings , c30 Yellowhammers , c25 Chaffinches and three Stock Doves (below) were opposite the Dairy Farm at SP060230, and near Roel Gate a nice flock of c20 Corn Buntings were feeding in a ploughed field at SP054247. Today I finally saw the Brent Goose at Coombe Hill Meadows. After two unsuccessful attempts last weekend it looked like I was too late again when I arrived at 8:55am to find no sign. At 9:35am however Mark spotted it flying back to join 10 Shelducks , when it proceeded to feed (below) and then go to sleep. Not much else of note here now the water leve...