SLIMBRIDGE END OF JANUARY

Another visit to Slimbridge this morning before the month's end, to see the recently found Jack snipe plus other species I wanted to add to my year list. I've not seen a Jack snipe for several years, the last one being in a similar spot at Slimbridge. Today's views were not great as it was mostly resting,  hidden amongst the grasses but at least I did see it 'bobbing' once or twice.

Other species I added today were avocet, ruff, cattle egret ( about 16 on South Lake), cranes, and tundra bean geese.

An unusual sighting was a wood mouse which appeared to be unaware of all the human interest in him/her as it stayed nibbling away just feet away from us. We wondered if it was sick in some way as it just didn't seem to have very  bright eyes. 

Despite the forecast, it was a beautiful sunny morning at Slimbridge and the large areas of floodwater were attracted thousands of birds - an amazing sight. It was milder than of late too and all in all a very pleasant and rewarding morning at this stunning WWT reserve. 

wood mouse

wigeon

white fronted geese

tufted duck

Huge numbers of birds on the Tack Piece

pintail

Jack snipe

greylag

cattle egrets

Bewicks swan

 

SNOW BUNTINGS

 Whilst staying with my sister, we travelled up to the Lincolnshire rspb reserve  Frampton marsh with the aim of tracking down half a dozen snow buntings which have been residing there for the past few weeks.  Sparrow-sized, these attractive little birds breed in the Arctic  but winter around the coasts in the UK and exhibit a range of colours in their plumage. This made them quite camouflaged against the  muddy bank, and in fact we walked right past them to start with and  nearly thought we would have to go home disappointed, but came across  a warden who told us exactly where they'd just been seen so were able to retrace our steps. Once we had located them, they gave some very close views on the seaward side of the seawall, often coming within a few metres of us.  

BUNTINGS AND BRAMBLINGS

 Hearing that there were good numbers of bramblings, as well as  corn buntings,  at a popular spot in Hazleton  in the Cotswolds, I drove there this morning. The finches are fed regularly by the landowner who spreads seed along the rutted track behind the gate, and they can number dozens on a good day. 

A car  had just arrived ahead of me and parked at the pull-off point in front of the ,farm gate so I pulled up on the verge behind him which still gave  good views through the fence.   Regular birders know you need to remain in your car to avoid scaring off the birds which I did, transferring to the passenger seat to see more easily. It was ten minutes or so before I saw the first birds arrive, flying first to the top of a tree before gradually coming down to feed on the ground. I saw several  brambling amongst the chaffinches  and also some corn buntings which joined them and a passing red legged partridge. It was an enjoyable  hour in the  Cotswold country side. 

SOUTHSEA SANDPIPERS

 I was travelling home from Sussex this week so decided that staying overnight in a Premier inn would give me a chance to see a few birds along the south coast, in particular some purple sandpipers which I've never seen before. 

After an early start I stopped firstly at Farlington Marshes, just outside Portsmouth where I used  a walk around the reserve  to add some species to my yearly bird total  There were plenty of wildfowl on the marshes, including geese of the Canada and brent variety, and ducks such as wigeon, teal, pintail and shoveler. I also found a nice flock of curlew and a few redshanks.

It does not take too long to circuit the reserve so I was soon on my way to  Southsea Castle  on the south coast.  The old castle stands above the promenade which then has some quite large stones between the promenade and the sea which the public can't  access. However it has become a favourite area for some purple  sandpipers who feed on the rocks nearest the waters edge. The tide was already receding when I arrived and no sandpipers could be seen at their favourite area below the castle. I walked along a bit in either direction before            coming across some other birders  who told me that they'd just seen some on  some distant rocks at the far end of the promenade  beyond where it had been barricaded off for renovation work. Thinking it might be my only chance of a sighting, I headed in that direction and  peering around the metal fencing with my binoculars,  eventually made out a small silhouette against the water.. Well that was a bit disappointing but at least  I could say I'd seen one, couldn't I? 

As I walked slowly back along the promenade,  carefully scanning the rocks as I went,  a flock of about half a dozen small birds flew past and landed in  front of the castle - the purple sandpipers were back!  I caught them up and watched them against the sea - about seven birds in total. The sun was low in the sky behind them so not ideal for photos, but eventually I managed some, despite them  still being quite distant.  I guess when the tide is closer the birds will be too but for now I  was content to see a new species. 

brent geese

curlew

curlew

oyster catcher

redshank

redshank

purple sandpipers

GETTING STARTED IN 2026

 The cold snap made a pretty scene from Twitchers Gate in the Cotswold Water Park today. Good numbers of ducks, as well as great white egrets added to my  year list, and a common gull looked lonely on the ice. At pit 16, a juvenile Great Northern Diver was a bonus  as I didn't manage to see one last year.