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...

Saturday 30th January 2010 A trip to Grigrin Farm near Rhayder, in mid Wales on a perfect, crisp and clear day was a day to remember. The juvenile Black Kite (photos above and below) together with over 200 Red Kites coming to feed was a fantastic spectacle. Below: Red Kite Below: Red Kite and Black Kite together

Friday 29th January 2010 Just before leaving for work this morning I noted two male Siskins (male and female yesterday, above ), a Lesser Redpoll , three Goldfinches male and female Blackcaps and the female Great Spotted Woodpecker all at the garden feeders at the same time. The three small finch species are all going mad for the Nyjer seed, which I am having to top up with increasing frequency.

Saturday 23rd January 2010 I spent an excellent morning in the Forest of Dean with Mike managing to get a good variety of typical woodland species. There are still some patches of snow around in the forest, with temperatures a few degrees cooler than in the vale. The highlights were: Brierley A Willow Tit (above) , 17 Crossbills , two Jays , two Coal Tits and a Raven ; Parkend A pair of Mandarins on the small lake at Brookways Ditch, a Dipper on Cannop Brook behind The Fountain Inn, four Hawfinches at Parkend Beech and two Stock Doves ; Photo: Cannop Brook in spate at Parkend New Fancy View 25 Chaffinches , three Coal Tits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker ; Cannop Ponds Six Siskins at the feeders (photos above & below, bottom photo with a Goldfinch) , on the ponds 11 Coot , six Tufted Ducks , four Mandarins , 78 Mallards and three Little Grebes ; Hignham Woods Two Marsh Tits at the feeders.

Sunday 17th January 2009 On a sunny and warm winter's day I was engaged on family duties for most of the day, but managed to get out and do a bit of birding later in the afternoon. First stop was Slimbridge WWT, where the weather had brought out the crowds in force, I expect the trust are glad that the turnstiles are spinning again after the recent freeze. The Rushy hides were packed so I checked out South Lake and noticed a fully-winged drake Mandarin , with collection counterparts, from the little bridge over the drain on the way. Yearning for a quieter end to the afternoon I checked out Court Lake at Frampton on the way home in the fading light, where a redhead Smew , a drake Ruddy Drake and now eight Red-crested Pochards (above) (5m, 3f) were still present, plus an Egyptian Goose (below) . After that, a Little Owl was at Castle End Farm, Longney.

Saturday 16th January 2010 The Canada Goose showing characteristics of the race Branta canadensis interior , commonly known as Todd's Canada Goose , was in the Rushy Pen at Slimbridge WWT this morning (photos in poor light above and below) , before flying off with other Canada's at 9:40am. This is a very interesting bird, showing several features which together set it apart from its feral counterparts. My observations of the differences are: it is slightly smaller with a more slender neck; shorter bill; narrower white cheek patch; the black on the chin is linked to the black of the neck; at the bottom of the neck at the back, the black joins the brown of the mantle, with no white in between; the pale fringing on the scapulars etc. is much less distinct; the tertials are more contrastingly paler, giving the effect of a pale wing panel; it has a pale eye-ring; and if these features don't help - it has a limp! Other sightings this morning included: Sharpness Docks A female/imm...