Sprung

A quick look at the wet field in Caerleon this evening produced 1 LRP.

Scotland

A family wedding in Scotland last week meant that i could spend a few mornings out in the Highlands.A nice selection of birds were seen.The best were Golden Eagle,Ptarmigan,Black Grouse,Parrot Crossbill,Crested Tit,Snow Bunting and huge flocks of Pinkfeet.

Great Grey

Great Grey still at Wentwood this morning.Lots of white in that tail??

Movement

Spotted this over the house this morning.Made a Call to another birder as he needed it for his garden list,Smiles all round.

Chipper In Chipping Norton

Decided to go for the dove again.Good scope views from a garden further up the leys.Had another pop at number 41.Just before we got in it was feeding on the lawn quite happily until someone took a picture with the flash on.When we got in the dove was sat up in a tree obscured with branches.Never Mind.As we were heading back down the M5 past slimbridge the pager goes off, That Dam Gull back at Rainham.What to do,turn Left onto M4 towards the gull or turn right towards home.
Left it was but the least said about that the better.Haven't got a good record with gulls.

The 8 Till 5 Shift

 Spent the whole day camped outside number 41 The Leys Chipping Norton in the cold and rain.What for? absolutely nothing.Missed the dove by 10 People.Was Kept entertained tho by Bob with his 15 minute Quizzes.(well done Bob if you're reading this,it was an experience)

The Only other Highlight literally were Mats Pumps.(well done Mat also if you're reading this)

Weekend Shenanigans

An evening visit to Lr for the Gwent Goosander Winter Roost Survey this evening  produced 86 Birds,31 Males and 55 Redheads.Other birds of note were 9 Goldeneye ,4 Little Egrets and 1 YLGull.
Other Sightings over the weekend were 1 each of Spot Red and Greenshank at Goldcliff Pools and a Dipper at Phonthir.

New Out

The Latest Birders Accessory.(Guaranteed To Find You Rares).

The Beast Of Baneswell

Keep in your dogs and small Children but send your cats out whenever you want.

A 90 minute watch from the Golden Cliff this morning produced just 2 Kittiwakes.

4 Easy Steps

1- Pull up at Wentwood in van.
2- Walk 3 minutes into clearfell.
3- View bird
4- Walk 3 Minutes back to Van.

A Weekend Down South

A Day and a half down south produced a few little goodies.Hampshire produced Red Breasted Goose and Ring Billed Gull with Devon producing Surf Scoter,Cirl Bunting,Smew and Black Redstart.No Pics of the Surf Scoter due to it being a bit distant.

636 Miles Covered

A nice little selection of birds this weekend at Penzance and Dawlish Warren.Pacific Diver,GN Diver,RT Diver,Eider,Common Scoter,Velvet Scoter,Glaucous Gull,Med Gull,Bonxie,Grey Phal,Brent Goose(pale and dark bellied),Slav Grebe,Purple Sand and Waxwing to name a few.

Rare Filled Gwent!

What a year its been with Megas such as Iberian Chiff and not forgeting that june day at Bleanavon.Who would have guessed Britain's 5th (I Think)Marmora`s Warbler turning up here in wonderful Gwent.

The Gwent year list ended on 191 i gave it a good go and tried to connect with everything that graced gwent this year but still missed a few.Another highlight for me was Gwents 2nd Lesserlegs on the evening of the 28th of September leaving early next morning with only a few Gwent birders connecting.

So all in all a great year for Gwent on the rarity front and a good year county listing.

Other highlights throughout the year were a few day trips to various parts, and a few days twitching as well, with the highlights being Bufflehead,Black Kite,Oriental Pratincole,Great Reed Warbler,bobolink,Solitary Sandpiper,Green Heron and American Bittern. 

Best Of The Rest

No more Swans

A walk around a rapidly thawing Lr this morning produced no Bewicks Swans and no half expected Smew.Birds of note were 8 Mandarin 1 Med Gull 1 Goldeneye and a nice looking Bhgull.

Ice Age

River Usk At Caerleon

River Usk near Usk

Eight Waxwings opposite the Greyhound pub Usk



Whats going on.

Cant upload any more photos at the moment due to a message coming up saying I've used my 1GB quota.please buy some more(yeah right).did have this problem a month or so ago but cant remember what i did.

Aderyn Y Bwn

  Had a walk around Uskmouth this afternoon,not much about but the bird highlights were 1 Bittern seen by a couple we bumped into.3 Water Rail 3 Cettis heard and the starling roost held a nice big flock.The most vocal,loudest weirdest sounding Water Rail you've ever heard opposite the visitors centre.We could still hear it outside the gates on the main road.Almost run over a Little Owl that was sat on the road on the way home..

Garden Waxwings

Three waxwings flew over my head as i was finishing my cup of coffee on the back door this morning.Scoured Caerleon for an hour or so after but couldn't relocate them.On the way to Wentwood Reservoir i slowed down in Langstone by the old Hurrans Garden Centre and low and behold another two were raiding someones back garden.They're everywhere.Apart from that nothing else to report.Oh,Dartford Warbler reported this morning at Boat Lane.

The Things You Do To Try And Get A Year Tick.

Two crazy men went armed with a million candles to search out 10 Whooper Swans at Ponthir Reservoir this evening.Just double figure Goosander and Mallard to show for our efforts.