7th December - light rain until mid day then brighter spells, light freshening SW 9C

As a wet front was moving east during the day I decided to head SW to Slimbridge WWT on the Severn estuary and jolly pleased I did too.  The weather was dry with nice sunny spells but a fresh wind was blowing in off the Severn.

The area was full of birds, thousands of Golden Plover and Lapwings and wildfowl and a variety of other waders.  The following photos set the scene.

White-fronted Geese, mostly European and 5 Greenland, Barnacle, Greylag and Canada were all present.  Bewick Swans were on the pastures and estuary.

Two Scaup (females) were present on one pool with many other duck species, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Teal, Wigeon and Pintail.

Unusually, a Grey Phalarope had been present a few days, but not seen today, until I found it along the edge of one of the meres, allowing others to get brief views.  This is the first there for about 9 years so a real scarcity.

Other waders included Snipe, Ruff, Redshank, two Little Stint and a flock of Black-tailed Godwits.

Up to 5 Cranes were spotted through the day, one pair were performing the dancing display.

Birds of prey were rather scarce today, but the ever present Peregrine Falcon(s) was present, one making a kill (probably a Golden plover) not too far from the Holden Tower hide. The Rooks were paying a lot of attention to the Peregrine whilst eating its prey, or were they waiting for any leftovers!

In all I saw 53 species, Slimbridge this time of year is an amazing place, if you have never visited I highly recommend it.

6th January - a dull, damp and misty start , slowly brightening, very brief sunny spell afternoon, then cloud building. Light SW breeze, 8C

Mistle and Song Thrush singing this morning around the village.  Surprising the Great Tits aren't singing more, maybe they are waiting for the sun.

A busy day moving sheep from water logged fields and treating them with a dose of copper now they are halfway through pregnancy.  Spring lambs will soon be in the fields and wildlife in full change mode.

5th January - high cloud, light S, 8C

A day without rain.

A flock of at least 40 Fieldfare and 30 Starlings were sitting in the top of an Ash tree chattering away behind the church.  The charm of Goldfinch is still visiting the village garden feeders.  All the usual visitors were at the feed station, including 3 Pheasants.  Grey Squirells, 3 or more are seen daily, do they ever hibernate now?

Two Kestrels were sitting on the telegraph wires near to woodby lane and a Buzzard in the road side tree near to High Cross.

4th January - cloudy, higher and short bright breaks. Light SE/S, 8C

This morning there were at least 10 Yellowhammers at my feed station.  A Song Thrush was singing at the top end of the village.  Small groups of Filedfare were flying about the fields.

I visited the area near Stanford. Reservoir to see if the Short-earned Owls were showing, I did not see them.  However, over 300 Commom Gulls were on the neighbouring pastures with Rooks, Jackdaws and Starlings.  11 Teal and a few Wigeon were feeding on the flooded area in the fields.  3 Stock Dove were in the Ash trees, while several Long-tailed Tits and 2 Goldcrest searched the hedgerow.

The area has a lot of bird cover crop which is attracting quite a few Yellowhammers (c75) and Reed Bunting (c20), plus several Tree Sparrows, Linnet and Chaffinch.

In the distance to the west of the reservoir a large flock of Lapwing were flying around, -600, looking to land locally.

3rd January - dull wet start and continued until early evening, light SE, 8C

The weather made it pretty nasty out today with little locally to report, hopefully the weather will pick up somewhat.

A Green Woodpecker called this morning from the wood just east of the village.

2nd January - Dull and damp start, remaining cloudy, light rain late afternoon, light SE, 10C

At my feed station there were at least 4 Yellowhammers this morning.  Does this mean food in the fields is now getting scarce, even though the weather is not cold, just very wet?

I visited Eyebrook reservoir today, what a difference since my last visit in mid December, the water level is now very high and a rather brown colour with all the new water that's run in.  There were a lot of Teal and Wigeon plus the other usual duck species.  Additionally, there were 7 Smew present, there seems to have been and influx in to the Midlands in the recent days.  A couple of Little Egret were searching the edge for food.  The Lapwing were scattered all around the reservoir, well over a 1000, some were gathered in the shallow water at the inlet end, over 200 in the photo below.

Several Bullfinch were in the bordering hedgerow, a flock of Fieldfare 50+, the odd Redwing and Song Thrush were flying around the fields, and a small flock of Chaffinch flew over the inlet wood.  5 Red Kites were flying low together over the adjoining field at the inlet end.

1st January - bright morning, light wind, cloud thickening and wind freshening S/SW, 6C

Happy New year to all.
A light frost for a change last night, but gone by late morning.

In the village parish area last year I notched up 73 species of bird, which is not bad, fortunately very little change on the previous year total.

First thing this morning c20 Fieldfare were in the fields to the east and rooks were very busy attending to their nests again. A Jay flew from the Long Spinney over the allotments gardens.

I checked my feed station area for a while and the usual visitors were present. Nuthatch, single Coal Tit, several Blue and Great Tits, a dozen House Sparrow, still only one Tree Sparrow, 6 Chaffinch, 2 Yellowhammers and a Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 splendid male Bullfinches feeding on blackberries, then a female Sparrowhawk zoomed through making everything head for cover.  At least 10 Redwing were in the thick hedge while several Jackdaws squabbled nearby.

A visit to the local lake was a little disappointing, a couple of Little Grebe were 'trilling', and only one of the Mute Swan family was present today. A skein of 32 Greylag geese flew over southward but did not land, then a single Cormorant and in the distance c50 lapwing were flying SW over the fields.

I made an afternoon trip to Draycote water to catch up with some interesting birds and gulls which have been there recently. The wind really began to pick up and mist and a little drizzle later made the light almost disappear for Gull watching.  With extra people sailing on the open water today the birds were well scattered and harder to find.  Still, I did find a Great Northern Diver just off shore that was very obliging.