Scaup and Goose and Things

Sunday 23rd February 2014
Scaup, Walmore Common, 23rd February
I've caught up with a few county birds recently, including the fem/1st-winter Scaup at Walmore Common today, and Hen Harrier at Great Barrington. I couldn't locate the Chrcham Whooper Swans late afternoon, maybe they had returned to roost at Walmore Common. The ringtail Hen Harrier I saw briefly yesterday was east of Great Barrington village, just inside the county boundary - presumably the same as the bird seen near the Rissington trig; three Red Kites and a Buzzard were also here. A trip round the local lanes Friday evening produced a Tawny Owl at Longney at Hillfield Farm at dusk. The highlight of a local Winter Thrush survey this morning was 115 Redwings and two Fieldfares feeding on a field next to Haywicks Farm.
Jackdaw at WWT, 22nd February
I've seen the Tundra Bean Goose at WWT Slimbridge a couple of times now:
Tundra Bean Goose, WWT Tack Piece, with Russian White-fronts, 15th February
High tides and winds on 15th at Sharpness promised much, but I had to make do with eight Kittiwakes.With the mild winter continuing I've noticed some early signs of Spring in the last week; a Spotted Wolf Spider was at Colesbourne Park last Sunday, where Honey Bees were nectaring on the Snowdrops, and Blackthorn is starting to flower locally and also Hawthorn coming into leaf.
Spotted Wolf Spider, Colesbourne Park, 16th February

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