Gull Dip at Calvert

I drove to Calvert in the hope of a Glaucous and Iceland Gull but nothing on the BBOWT lake and everything was flying over to the sailing lake. Chap gave me directions to get a view if the lake but when I got there I saw hundreds of gulls , and didn't see a grey or white tail amongst them. Iceland smaller than Glaucous for ref....

Sailing lake at Calvert

First twitch of 2014 - RFBT!

My first twitch of the year - and only a couple of outings out birding at all due to crappy weather and new job. 

On the way back from Bristol we (Anna and I) stopped off at the long staying RED FLANKED BLUE TAIL . Showing nicely and feeding off titbits. 

Also GREY WAGTAIL on the river by the RFBT 

On the return journey on the M4 I clocked up a HERRING GULL and a single RING NECKED PARAKEET 

Year list to a stonking #27

Red Flanked Bluetail in Gloucester 

Granville Garden tick

Whilst in the garden with Rob and Evie, both a SPARROW HAWK and RED KITE were showing nicely flying overhead.
Granville Garden tick list reaches a massive total of #13

Wilstone Circular and Cattle Egret

A lovely day for a full circuit of the Tring Ressies with Anna, Jon and Jen.
A total of 34 species including below

On the way to Waddesdon I took a rare opportunity to twitch a CATTLE EGRET in a cow field quite near Biscester. Year tick #205

Redwing and Fieldfare at Wilstone

Cattle Egret at Steeple Clayton

Northchurch Patch

After a very quiet birding stretch for a month and a half - due to finally moving house and then finally leaving Boehringer - I made the time to find a great 2 hour circular walk around Northchurch.
This produced goodies such as KINGFISHER and COAL TIT.
Local patch list for 2013 totals #31
Expect another list or two to be created covering both Granville Garden and Northchurch

I hope I find the time to keep at least this going as work load and commute has gone into overdrive.

Water Pipit at Wilstone

Early November saw the return of the Water Pipit as well as the LITTLE STINT at Wilstone

Year total to #204

Water Pipit returns again

Bird ID Course produces a double lifer

Myself and Rob ventured to Wales for a bird ID course and it produced a very active MERLIN as well as a CHOUGH. 
Bringing the life total to #287
Some good comparison shots of  MED GULL and some learnings occurred

The back end of a couple of Chough