Short Eared and Tawny Owls

Date: 
15th-28th January

Location:
Marlborough downs, Somerset Levels,Newton St Loe, Chew Valley

Weather: 
Blue Skies,sunsets, hail, grey overcast, wet.

Species Highlights: 
Short Eared Owl, Red Kite, Corn Bunting, Bearded Reedling, Tree Sparrow, Tawny Owl, Starling, murmuration

Observations: 

15th January I headed to my favorite part of Wiltshire for my fix of Tree Sparrows and Short Eared Owls, I was not disappointed! 
Corn bunting sat Singing, Yellowhammer, all greeted me on arrival.

But a sudden and not forecasted hail storm made everything disappear but after 20 mins the sun shone through and Tree Sparrow appeared.

Tricky to get close too but happy to get a few shots.

From There I headed up on to the Marlborough Downs for some Owl action, Kettle on and a sandwich before we saw any but 5 or 6 eventually showed well.

Hunting across the fields in perfect light for a change.

Such great birds always a treat to watch.

Catching mostly voles, this one mantling its lunch.

People gathered on the hills all having great views.

On the 19th Sunday Me and Lauren went back up, It was very different with cars, dogs and walkers everywhere. We walked around looking for some action and came across 4 Red Kites just chilling in the afternoon sunshine.

The Shorties did show but no where near as well but we were very happy to watch them.

Even if some people didn't even notice them!

We waited till sunset and it was worth the wait!

20th Monday we headed down to Ham Wall and Shapwick, no sign of the Firecrest or Yellow-Browed Warbler but this Chiffchaff showed well.

Great Crested Grebe feeding well on Perch , i think.

Looking splendid in winter plumage.

while looking for the YBW a group of birders spotted this fine chap, not often we get to see a Tawny Owl in the Daylight.

He sat for most of the day here by Avalon hide.

With the sunshine even got my first Butterfly of the Year a Red Admiral, just 58 to go!

From the hide 3 Marsh Harrier cruised past always distant.

A coffee then we walked over to Shapwick for the main attraction the Starling murmurations.

A slow start to the show tonight but soon there must have been 500,000 plus in the skies above.

Count that lot!

Lauren took these pictures, a great job!!

No real patterns but we did see Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, the Starling soon went down to roost was a amazing sound.

Once down to roost the skies turnned orange and red a perfect end.

21st January was the first full patch walk for me, it started with a heavy fog making visibility down to 50ft birding was tricky! Once at the Lake happy to see the Whooper Swan was still present, Little grebe, Tufted Duck also still about.

The resident Mute is starting to chase our Whooper, has been seen by someone this week to fly off but has since returned, i'll check in on him this Thursday.

Really pleased to see a Marsh Tit at the top of top lake, just the one,a bit scarce around these parts.

From the misty start the light was stunning by end of walk and good to be back on patch.

ending first full patch on a 39 count.

Weekend off work as we visited Lisbon Portugal 23rd-26th, a few good birds will do a blog soon.

28th 

Headed down to Chew Valley to a wet grey Hide at Stratford Marsh Harrier, Black Necked Grebe and 2 Bearded Reedling showed, light was awful.

Once I got home and warmed up noticed on the feeder tree at home 4 Bullfinch 3 Male and 1 Female again light bad so just a record shot of this stunning male, will try harder!

Wayne Year Bird List: 105
Lauren Year Bird List: 100

Thanks For Looking! 

&

  Thanks For All Your Support!

If you enjoy our blog's, why not follow us on our social media:

Twitter

Facebook

Forest of Dean & Newton

Date: 14/17 January 2019

Location: 
Forest of Dean + Newton St Loe

Weather: 
Overcast then Beautiful Sunshine.

Species Highlights: 
Dipper, Crossbill, Marsh Tit, Short Eared Owl, Buzzard.
Observation: 
Monday morning we popped over the bridge to the Forest of Dean to see the Crossbills that had been all over social media, we've been going in January since 2014 but this year it seems everyone else decide to go! We arrived at 8am with just one other car there but soon the small car park was full with people walking, chatting and more cars arriving all morning long after 2.5 hours we left with no Crossbills. On a up note we did hear a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Drumming. 
From Parkend we went to our usual spot for Dipper and excellent to see a Pair.

After checking out Woolgreens with not a single bird on the lake or seen on the walk we headed to Cannop ponds for lunch and soon had all the normal birds visiting.

Marsh Tit always a little stunner.

Even asking fashion advice, Does my bum look big in this!

The light was very overcast so a very high ISO but the bird performing well.

Nuthatch

Not getting our target birds we headed back up to Parkend, even more people were there but after a hour of waiting a flock of Crossbill landed in tree above us then 2 came down to puddle.

A very brief visit in fact 30 seconds but great to see.

All targets ticked we drove back to England and stopped at Aust to check in on the Shorties, on pulling in we immediately spotted a SEO pearch on a distant branch. Another Short Eared Owl appeared and a brief tussle started.

We had a great day with Siskin, Crossbill, Dipper, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit all added to our year lists.

Thursday my normal patch walk and the sunshine was shining like a summer's day top field still quiet but did see 5 Skylark and this lovely Buzzard flew towards me for a change.

Love the colour on his tail almost Red Tailed Hawk!

He soon spotted me and drifted off.

Lots of small birds through Send a Cow woodland and this Grey Wagtail feeding on the lower Waterfall, bottom lake.

Teal numbers have dropped right of now only 17 birds all swans present but little else to report from lakes.
A few Common Gull on back drive in orchard at end of drive the single Fieldfare we busly feeding and fallen apples, along we a female Blackcap.

After a walk ending on 43 species a few birds were visiting my feeders, mostley Goldfinch, Tits.

But great to see a pair of Blackcap looking good in the sunshine.

Off to Canada wednesday for 10 days so check our Twitter feed for updates.

Thanks For Looking! 

&

  Thanks For All Your Support!

If you enjoy our blog's, why not follow us on our social media:

Twitter

Facebook