1-30 November 2010 blog and sightings

 30 November 2010

The month ended with this Richard’s Pipit that JSL had found

Image by MJM

26-28 November 2010 I was guiding in Norfolk, a full trip report now on the relevant page. Lots of good birds but this putative Northern Harrier was one of the highlights.

Wigeon have been very showy on the WWT ‘lawns’

15-16 November 2010 Fogbound mornings allowed no birding.

14 November 2010 Back in Gloucestershire and at WWT Slimbridge. I did see and hear a Siberian Chiffchaff tristis well in the canoe trail as well as a possible abietinus bird and two collybitta Chiffs. The day was mostly fogbound.

Sibe Chiff

9-13 November 2010 I travelled to Champagne Ardennes region of France with a small group to watch the Cranes and other birds of Lac du Der. The 14th November 2010 count revealed 74,500 at the roost, a record! I reckon there were a few more on the 12th. A full trip report to come.

Short-eared and Barn Owl

 

8 November 2010 Highlights for me today was catching a Barn Owl in the Zeiss Hide, I released it safely, the Merlin hunting pipits on the Dumbles, watching White-fronted Geese arrive so we now have 53, a Little Stint, three Water Pipits together and a Short-eared Owl. Other locally notable birds were 2 Grey Plover and 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, will they spend the winter? A small fall of thrushes onto the Tack Piece hedge was also of interest, 6 Song Thrush, 5 Redwing, 20 Fieldare and 7 Blackbird.

Water Pipit trio

7 November 2010 A Leach’s Petrel was brought in dead having been found in the Bristol area by Mr Parry. A few images to study the plumage and tubenose for you. One was seen on the estuary near Awre on 4th and a Storm Petrel was off WWT on 6th. A Merlin showed all morning on the Dumbles and was still present at lunchtime.

2-6 November 2010 No birding except a few half hours at WWT.

1 November 2010 Back at work at WWT Slimbridge. An increase in wildfowl and Golden Plover 1400 and lots of visible migration. Parties and singles of Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Brambling, Chaffinch, Linnet, Starling, Redwing and Fieldfare are all on the move. The Starling roost at the centre nubered 2000 birds and more were heading for WWT as I drove along the A38 home so it could be a decent build up of birds soon.