STANTON PARK

A bit chilly for much of a walk, but stopped by at Stanton to see what was about on the feeders. Another photographer had already set it up for some photos, but surprisingly it was  very quiet. No nuthatches but saw  a few robins, blue tits, coal tits, great tits, long tailed tits and a tree creeper. Then noticed a couple of lambs in the fields by the entrance to the  country park. 

various branches arranged on the feeding station!

coal tit

robin

blue tit

 the same robin

tree creeper

sheep and lamb 

LIDEN LAGOON

A rather cold and breezy walk round the lagoon, with a short sleet  shower as well! Nothing out of the ordinary, the usual tufted ducks, mallards, coots, moorhens, swans and canada geese.  A few pairs of gadwall were there too.

pair of gadwall

canada goose

mallards and daffodils

STANTON PARK

I stopped off at Stanton Park for a while this morning, and sat by the bird feeding station. Lots to see today, five species  of the tit family; bluetit, great tit, long tailed tit, coal tit and, as  a nice bonus, a marsh tit. Also good views of a couple of nuthatches. Also seen were robin, blackbird, wood pigeon, tree creeper, magpie, rook, redwings, swan, mallard, coot and moorhen. A Canada goose with orange collar was also present, but unwelcome by the resident swans.

blue tit

coal tit

great tit

long tailed tit

marsh tit

female chaffinch

male chaffinch

robin

nuthatch

nuthatch

canada goose being chased off by swan

COTSWOLD WATER PARK

An extra afternoon off gave me the opportunity to visit the water park today, a bit cloudy and not that warm but worth a visit, I thought.  Having been told where to park, I found Pit 30, and spotted the pair of Smew in the distance. As I approached, they took off and landed the other side of the lake; when I caught up with them they quickly swam off round a corner and I couldn't find them, but at least I had identified them through binoculars so could tick them off for this year.  Also saw a pair of red crested pochards, tufted ducks, mallards, great crested grebes doing a courtship display.

great crested grebes

On  to Lower Moor Farm where from the first hide, on the bird feeders,  were plenty of bluetits and great tits, male and female reed buntings, male and female bullfinches, dunnock, robin and nuthatch. From the second hide, I saw a pair of goosanders, herons nest building and long tailed tits. 

fluffed up bluetit

great tit

pair of bullfinches

dunnock

grey heron

nuthatch

reed bunting (f)

reed bunting (m)

robin

goosander (m)

goosander (f)

 blue tit and catkins

KINGFISHER AND WATER RAIL AT COATE WATER

A pleasant afternoon at Coate Water. Clear blue skies and little wind.  A  good number of species seen today, including a kingfisher sitting in a tree near Hide 1 and a water rail at Hide 2, tempted out by some bird seed I put out. 
Species of note were:
 blackheaded gull, herring gull, canada geese, mute swan, mallard, tufted duck, gadwall, pochard, teal, great crested grebe, goosander, heron, cormorant, goldcrest, tree creeper,  greater spotted woodpecker, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, chaffinch, wren, dunnock, moorhen, coot, robin, jackdaw, jay, wood pigeon,  pied wagtail, kingfisher and water rail, 

water rail

kingfisher

wren

great crested grebe

long tailed tits

MOULDON HILL

Was shopping near Mouldon Hill today so   popped in for a quick visit as the sun was shining. Very peaceful on the lake - great crested grebe, mallards, coots, moorhens, canada geese, blackheaded gulls and mute swans. Also noted robin, goldcrest, blue tit, long tailed tit, magpies and blackbirds. 

IN MY GARDEN

Had a quick look out of the window after breakfast and took a few photos.

robin on the summer house roof

house sparrows

goldfinches and greenfinch

blue tit prospecting for a nest site - they haven't used this box before although it has been up for several years now.