February Update

Have not done a great deal this month-the heavy snow early on,followed by a family matter saw to that.
I had a visiting male Blackcap last week in the garden, and yesterday a Chiffchaff started to sing (not very well) outside in the big oak.
Spring is on the way, my snowdrops are out in force, as well as bulbous iris, a few crocus and some cyclamen. Queen bees are on the wing, and this weekend frogs have started to appear in the pond. At least three are already paired up so spawn should appear any day now.

Devon Trip

On Friday afternoon, I spent an hour at the old airfield at Hatfield and the adjacent scrub/pits at Beech Farm where I met one of the people I know from Amwell. Apart from three Stonechats, and a small flock of Lapwing, things looked very quiet, but after about half an hour, one of thee Short Eared Owls appeared and put on a good show for us. I was somewhat relieved as I had paid several visits last year and not seen any.

Saturday was penciled in as a long trip down to Devon.
The main target was the Penduline Tit in a small reed bed near Paignton Leisure Centre. After about twenty minutes it was found low down in the reeds opposite feeding. Shame really as there was a lot of reedmace heads close to us which would have made a better photo. Overhead, a pair of displaying Ravens cronked while being mobbed by a Buzzard.
Broadsands has become a popular destination due to a flock of Cirl Buntings by the main car park. Due to the wind, they stayed in a hedge but showed well in scopes. We saw about six or seven birds, but more have been seen by others. The bay held a large flock of Grebes-mainly Great Crested, but a few Black Necked were also present. From the headland, more grebes and sea duck could be seen, as well as divers, but the best bird was a dark blue phase Fulmar which is quite rare in the channel.
Brixham Harbour held a small flock of Purple Sandpiper at the end of the break-water. I had to return to the car, and when Colin returned he showed me the Grey Phalarope on his camera screen. Luckily it was still present when I got back, but flew off. The harbour was also filling up with Kittiwakes and Little Gulls as a result of the strong easterly winds.
We ended a long day trying to find Cattle Egrets at Powderham Castle and on the river Axe, but without success. I suspect that they had already gone to roost asit was quite late in the day.

Barn Owl Again

Quiet afternoon, so have been through last weeks images and worked on a few. Here is another one of the Barn Owl.

Norfolk

Yesterday we paid our first visit to Norfolk, stopping off at the Ouse Washes on the Norfolk/Cambridge border. The intention was to try and find the Great White Egret that had been seen yesterday. The washes were full of swans-hundreds of Bewicks and Mute, and over a thousand Whooper, which made finding a white heron extremely difficult. In fact after about half an hour in the cold wind we gave up.
Heading up towards Welney, one of the Barn owls was seen on a post ahead of us and Colin was able to get the car into a suitable position, but it took off, flew over to my side and hung in the air while I fired the shutter. Eventually it flew over into the fields and continued hunting.
Nearby, by some old farm buildings a flock of finches and sparrows held a number of Corn Buntings.
Titchwell on the Norfolk coast was very busy as usual. The usual selection of waders were present-many Ruff, Godwits and Plovers, as well as a few Avocets and Spotted Redshank. One of two Water Pipits showed very well, but too far away for the camera. The strong southerly winds had pushed most of the sea duck away from shore, and little was left, though a small flock of Snow Bunting in the dunes was nice to sea. Being high tide, most of the shore line waders had gone to roost but a few Bar Tail Godwits acted more like weather vanes in the breeze.
Back in the Washes, the Egret had been re-found so we headed off and eventually got to see it distantly in one of the drains.
We ended the Day at Burwell Lode near Wicken Fen watching the Short Eared Owls hunting over fields full of Roe Deer. One owl had caught a vole, but a Kestrel tried snatch it from the owls claws-very close to us but in with the sun going down no chance of an image.

Day Out in Kent

This past weekend has been a very cold one. On Friday, we had freezing fog and a wonderful hoar frost on the trees that frustrated the photographers at work-we all wanted to be out there getting images. Unfortunately, by Saturday, much of it had gone and the light was so poor that try as I might, i could not get anything worthwhile.
Today we had planned a trip to Kent.
First stop was West Hythe to see the long staying Night Heron by the Military Canal. Luckily the water was unfrozen and it posed superbly, despite the attentions of a pair of Mink. Just above it a female Kingfisher sat for quite some time.
On the Isle of Sheppy, we spent the rest of the day and did very well for raptors, picking up the usual wintering Rough Legged Buzzard, many Marsh Harrier, several Hen Harriers and both Merlin and Peregrine. Pity we could not find any owls. Large numbers of Geese-Brent and White Fronted, plus a small herd of Bewicks Swans weer good to see, and the Swale held big flocks of Wigeon and Pintail, plus a variety of waders.

Waxwings again

Recovering from yesterday, I drove up to York road, and immediately saw two Waxwings in the pink Rowan tree. They soon flew off and joined four others in a tall tree.
Despite our fears about the lack of food, they are still around, but are difficult to find. Presumably there is a food source that birders have yet to locate.
Nearby, just south of Stevenage, 50 Golden Plover were found in a frozen field with a few Lapwing.

Glaucous Winged Gull Mega

Yesterday morning I went to Amwell. I failed to see a number of the species that I had seen earlier in the week, but i did see a Chiffchaff in the willows over the river Ash, and a female Goosander, presumably one of those that had been present at Hertford for several weeks.
Nice to meet a number of old friends, including a couple that I had not seen for quite some time.
Today I joined the throng at Teeside. Colin and I arrived at Cowpen tip at 10 am to see about a thousand birders lining the roadside scanning th huge gull flocks swirling around. Some managed to see an adult Glaucous gull (Colin had it perched on the tractor that was turning the rubbish over). Suddenly rumour spread that our target was further round on Cowpen Marsh, and when Lee Evans ran past it was clear we had to move.
Luckily the bird in question, Britains second Glaucous Winged Gull was still on view , showing very well, but too distant for photography. At one point, it was the sole bird on the ground, and showed all the diagnostic features a very distinctive bird.
We left just after 11 am, and with no targets nearby decided to return home via Pitsford Reservoir.
The north end was partially frozen, but six Smew (three drakes) were present. The south end was clear of ice and we found the Slavonian Grebe, but there was no sign of the Black Necked Grebe.