Local Kingfishers

Got a tip off recently about a wintering pair off kingfisher in my local park so had a couple of morning down there before work 1st day there was only one but showing really well as it seem to be fishing right next to a well walked footpath and the second day their was a pair of them but only got brief views one of which was one of the birds chasing off the other so will be back for more when this rain stop!!

Stockers lake

A nice walk on sunday morning with the local RSPB group to Stockers Lake a nice sunset to start the day off but that quickly vanished but plenty of birds around with a nice selection of waterfowl around on the lakes with the highlight the close in Goldeneyes and Red-crested Pochards in with the Wigeon and other waterfowl even an escapee Black Swan was around. In the Trees and field quite a few Winter thrushes around with medium sized flocks of RedWing and Fieldfare and a few Song Thrush singing from the tree tops. Around the lower levels good numbers of Tit Flocks with a few Goldcrest feeding with them and Goldfinches overhead. A good morning out with 49 species seen, 50 if you count the Black Swan

Winters Day at Amwell

Had a nice winter day out at Amwell earlier in the week, Smew was showing fairly well on the shore of the Island and plenty of Goldeneyes at least five maybe as many as eight along with the usual waterfowl of Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal and Wigeon. Then spent a bit of time in the hide hoping for a Waterail or Kingfisher but no joy but made with some nice views of the Reed Bunting and the local Tits.

Smew

Smew in a flap

Male Goldeneye

Female Gadwall

Male Pochard

Magpie from the hide

Close of the Female Reed Bunting

Hanging Blue Tit

Mute Swan in the last light

Sunny day in Oxfordshire

Last week had a nice out in oxfordshire starting at Farmoor Reservoir where there were plenty of waterfowl of the water with good numbers of Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Tufted Duck and a super Red-necked Grebe. Further around Wigeon were out in the middle of the Reservoir and out on the edges there were a few Meadow Pipits between the Pied Wagtails which seemed to be along every bank and Fieldfares and blackbirds were feeding on the berries around the edge.

Red-necked Grebe

The Larger Cousin Great Crested Grebe

Male Mallard

Pied Wagtail

Then finished the day at RSPB Otmoor with thrushes everywhere with good numbers of Fieldfares flying over my head making there wonderful sound mixed with a few Redwing  and quite a few Starling before their main roost. Then headed to the hide were had a nice pair of stonechats in the early evening light.

Distance Redwing

Stonechat in the last rays of the day

Dawn at Heartwood

Last week before work managed to get in time for a sunny sunrise over Heartwood Forest with views from the hill looking down towards sandridge

Then headed up the hill to the hedge where had a nice flock of Reed Bunting warming up in the hedge before heading on into the wood

Wendover Woods and Wiltstone Reservoir

Had a nice walk at the weekend to Wendover Woods with the RSPB group with the woods still showing the autumn colours but quite misty and cloudy lots of bird calling through the wood but with at the top of the tree but still managed to see a few Goldcrests though many more were calling along with Blue Tit and Great Tit up in the trees. Further around a brief sighting of a Muntjac Deer before we had very two very vocal Song thrushes trying to out compete each other before ending the walk with a nice sighting of a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Then headed to Wiltstone Reservoir for a brief visit on the way home where had Fieldfares feeding in the trees and around the edge a Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit  were feeding along with the more common Pied and Grey Wagtails.

Posing Water Pipit

Meadow Pipit a good comparison

Grey Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Last light at Amwell

Had a nice few hours at Amwell with lots of the winter ducks feeding close to the hide as the sun was setting as the Wigeon and Greylag Geese were feeding along with Teal, Shoveler and a selection of various waterfowl.

Wigeon Feeding

Resting Shoveler

Feeding Greylags

Mallard at last light

Coot at last light