Wildlife Sightings 01/02/18

January & February  

These months are normally quiet, I tend to look at inland reservoirs for wintering Divers and Grebes, Chew Valley Lake is always a good bet for a Great Northern Diver, I also head out onto Salisbury Plain for Hen Harriers and Short eared owls, a slow drive across just before dusk normally gets you one or both species along with Barn Owls 

Slimbridge in Gloucestershire is brilliant for Ducks, Swans and Geese, all giving very close views from the many hides.

The Cotswold Water Park is well worth a visit with so many pits to look at there is always something to find, there should be Goosander, Goldeneye, Red Crested Pochard and with a little luck Smew and Scaup, try pits 29, 30, 44, 57 and 74, if you are out late then try pit 74 or 16 for a gull roost, I have found Iceland, Glaucous and Caspian Gulls here in the past

Severn Beach area can also be very good for Wildfowl, the best area is between the 2 motorway bridges at Northwick Warth / New Passage area looking upriver from the last house, this is also good for Water Pipits.

Reports in RED are my own sightings (number) = total species seen this year so far

TOTAL SO FAR THIS YEAR (129)

Recent Bird records (South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the old county of Avon)

January Sightings

31^st

Smew on pit 28 of the Cotswold Water Park (129)

2 Grey Partridge and a Red Kite at Harnhill

29^th

Lesser Scaup, 2 Scaup and a Black Necked Grebe at Chew Valley Lake

28^th

Smew on pit 28, Ring Necked duck, Great White Egret and a Bittern on pit 31 and a Scaup on pit 126 of the Cotswold water Park

26^th

Richards Pipit at Arlington

Penduline Tit is still in Gloucester.

25^th

Smew on pit 28 of the Cotswold water Park

21^st

2 Purple Sandpipers at Portland Bill, Marsh Harrier at Radipole, 5+ Black Necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver and Common Scoter in Portland Harbour and a Spoonbill at Lodmoor Dorset (125)

Cattle Egret at Chew Valley Lake

 20^th

Marsh Harrier and 173 Pintail on pit 74, 2 Egyptian Geese on pit 64 of the Cotswold water Park

19^th

Penduline Tit is still in Gloucester.

18^th

Green Winged Teal at Ashleworth ham

14^th

Ring Necked Duck, 7 Goosanders and 45+ Red Crested Pochards at the Cotswold Water Park. (110)

Richards Pipit at Arlingham Gloucestershire

Great Grey Shrike, 10+ Crossbill, 80+ Redpoll, 40+ Siskin, 1 Hawfinch and 10+ Mandarin Ducks in the Forest of Dean

2 Short Eared Owls at Aust

Caspian Gull at Old Sarum

13^th

Ring Necked Duck on pit 31 of the Cotswold water Park

10^th

12+ Hawfinch at Corsham Court (101)

Merlin, 2 Bramblings, 40+ Corn Buntings at Marshfield

8^th

14+ Hawfinch at Corsham Court

7^th

2 Whooper Swans at Northwick Warth / Pilning Wetlands (84)

Glossy Ibis at Lydney

Richards Pipit at Arlington

50+ Hawfinch at Fonthill

6^th

Penduline Tit still in Gloucester

3^rd

4 Yellow Legged Gulls on pit 16, 10+Goldeneye on pit 74, 50+ Red crested Pochard on pit 44 of the Cotswold water Park (83)

Leach’s Petrel, Glaucous Gull and 38 kittiwakes at Severn Beach

2^nd

17 Hawfinches at Newton St Loe, Bath

1^st

Penduline Tit still in Gloucester (72)

Great Northern Diver and Black Redstart at Sharpness

Lesser Scaup and Cattle Egret at Chew Valley Lake

Ring Necked Duck, SWP Pit 87

Great Northern Diver, Sharpness

Richards Pipit, Arlington

Great Grey Shrike, Crabtree Hill