Wilstone redpoll

A quick walk around to the hide this morning in pretty dire weather conditions - produced a single lesser redpoll in the southwest corner
Also 3 snipe hunkered down on the spit by the hide
Fieldfare, redwing, grey wagtail, buzzard and lots of waders - mostly teal, shoveler and tufties also

Lesser Redpoll at Wilstone

Lunchtime lifer at the Royal Ressie #258

A mad dash to the Queen Mother Reservoir in Datchet produced lifer # 258 - a RED NECKED GREBE showing nicely quite near the edge of the water. Good job as its a massive piece of water. Also a long tailed duck was present and even closer in. Not bad in a lunch break of sorts.
 Must apply for a permit as I went in by parking down the road and walking in.

Red Necked Grebe

Long Tailed Duck 

Waxwings in Bucks

After a night out in Windsor I took a diverted route home to see the 20+ waxwings in Aylesbury

Good light this morning and a sudden landing of about 15 on the berries - the following pics being the result.

Aylesbury Waxwings

Canal side walk

Me and my lovely went for a walk in the winter sunshine along the canal in Berkhamsted to Cowroast

Me and Denz on Berko canal

Common Buzzard at Dudswell

Lodge Hill, Saunderton

A  beautiful morning - went looking for hawfinch, but no joy.

Bullfinch, goldfinch, marsh tit, great tit, blue tit, red kite, redwing, fieldfare all seen.

I heard a tawny owl but I think it might have been a song thrush impersonating - after playing back the call and walking closer all I heard was a ST going nuts making a whizzy noise. Odd. 

Marsh Tit

Getting ready for the kids clown party 

Water Pipit at Wilstone

A grey Saturday morning - finally rewarded by a solitary Water Pipit

Water Pipit at Wilstone

Lifer on the road - LT Duck # 257

Work sent me up to Leamington, and the radar picked up a lifer within 20 mins so I got up early and headed off. Very muddy place so wellies on I headed off - in my work trousers . By the time I had a decent view I was covered in mud splash and thorns a plenty

However that's twitching ! Pleased with the result a LONG TAILED DUCK 

Lifer # 257 , # 241 for the year

Long Tailed Duck , Upper Bittell Res

Ressies this morning

A trip to the ressies produced around 18 common snipe - the most I have seen. On the bund by the hide at Wilstone

 Few redwing and fieldfare around

Common Snipe fest 

On to Startops - no joy on the goosander or water pipit

A mipit at Startops 

Grey Wag at Startops 

Lifer tick in Portsmouth #256

After a couple of attempts at Farlington marshes, I connected with this exotic looking goose!

#256 a RED BREASTED GOOSE

Attempts for hawfinch and black redstart failed going up and down the M27 like a yo yo! 

# 240 for the year list 

Red Breasted Goose

Farmoor Lifer #255

An early morning trip to Farmoor reaped a great condition SCAUP on F1 reserve number 255 life and 239 for 2012
Also a Slav Grebe showing well
I bumped into the insomniac birder at the ressie - nice as that's how I knew the bird was present !

SCAUP