NT
On the 10th February:
1975
1979
A visit to Ashton Court where in the woodland opposite the deer enclosure we saw a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.
A cold, dull day with almost continuous snow showers, heavy at times, at Chew Valley Lake there were lots of birds, the highlights being a male and 2 female Smew, 13 Goosanders, around 150 Wigeon, about 150 Ruddy Ducks, 60 White-fronted Geese, 9 Dunlin, a Yellowhammer, about 40 Stock Doves and a Bittern. At Blagdon Lake there was also lots of birds, the best being
16 Bewick's Swans and a male Smew.
1980
A cold, sunny day at Chew Valley Lake, where we saw the Greater Sand Plover again, also 6 Dunlin. 200+ Lapwing, around 25 Goosander, a female Smew, 20+ Goldeneye and a Pink-footed Goose with the Canada Geese.
1987
In The Gambia at Farafenni, then continued our trip eastwards on the River Gambia to Georgetown now called Janjanbureh.
9 new birds seen today.
Photo: Hooded Vulture.
1990
1991
Snow still lying in the garden in Bristol, the male Blackcap returned to the feeders, Redwing and Fieldfare were still attracted by the food I had put out, and there was a Siskin with the finches, a scarce bird here.
1993
In North Island New Zealand the last day on Little Barrier Island and in New Zealand. No new birds today.
Photo: Bellbird.
2005
At Snettisham, not such an early start as yesterday, I had time to view the pools before getting to the hide to record the Knot flock leaving. At the first large pool/lake there were 6 1st winter Scaup and a little further on a single male Scaup.
On the other pools I saw a male Red-breasted Merganser, 20+ Pochard, 12+ Goldeneye with several of the males displaying, Little Grebe, 2 Little Egrets and 2 Avocets, along with about 100 Greylag Geese.
At the hide I recorded the Knot flock leaving their high tide roost, various sized flocks taking off, often cicling over the pool before heading out to the mud-flats which were being exposed as the tide dropped.
After packing up the equipment, I had a wander around the area beyond the pools, seeing a Snow Bunting, a female Hen Harrier, a Merlin, 2 Barn Owls, 6 Red-legged Partridges, 3 Hares and lots of Rabbits.
Recording of Knot flocks taking-off from roost.
Video: Top: 1st winter Scaup, also see here.
Bottom: Goldeneye displaying,
also see here.
2006
A return to Brimsham Park in Yate where I saw the 4 Hawfinches again and a fly over Peregrine.
Video: Hawfinch feeding on ground.
Also see here.
2016
A visit to the Marshfield area, where I saw 2 Ravens, 6 Buzzards, Skylarks, around 20 Corn Buntings, 3 Yellowhammers, Pheasants and 100's of corvids.
Then went to Portbury Wharf where there were lots of common birds, the best being 2 male Bullfinches and 3 Goldcrests.
Photo: Corn Buntings.
