December 2022

We started the day at Herriott's Bridge, Chew Valley Lake. We didn't see much there, as it was raining when we first arrived. From the Stratford Hide, a Great White Egret flew past twice, Grey Heron on the bank & a very showy Female Goosander. The Snipe we saw mainly amongst the vegation were Common Snipe, sadly no Jack Snipe. In the afternoon, we went to Barrow Gurney Reservoirs to see the Long-tailed Duck. The Male was still present on Tank No 1 with the Tufted Ducks.

Goosander [Female]

Great White [Adult Winter]

Long-tailed Duck [Male Winter]

Grey Heron [Adult]

Chipping Sodbury, Horton & Yate 27th December 2022

Me & Dad had a quick look for Peregrine near Westerleigh, but no joy. We walked along the River Frome in Chipping Sodbury & saw very little in way of birds, same applied for the Barnhill Quarry. We did however had better luck with Peregrines near Chipping Sodbury's other quarry & one was perched in its favourite spot. At Horton we saw 2 Red Kites together being harassed by Corvids. In our garden a Female Blackcap paid a visit & fed on the pink Rowan Berries.

Peregrine [Adult]

Robin [Adult]

Blackcap [Female]

Red Kites

Blackcap [Female]

Yate 30th December 2022

Five Long-tailed Tits paid a visit to our garden along with the Female Blackcap.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY READERS.

Long-tailed Tit [Adult]

Blackcap [Female]

Slimbridge WWT 24th December 2022

We popped out to Slimbridge WWT for a few hours. Good numbers of Bewick's Swans were present in the Rushy Pen. A Male Great Spotted Woodpecker was on a feeder in front of the Willow Hide. A couple of Common Teal showed well from the hide.
A White Morph Snow Goose was present on the Tack Piece from the Robbie Garnett Hide. A Peregrine panicked the Golden Plovers, Lapwings & Black-tailed Godwits into flight.
A few Common Cranes were at the back of the Tack Peice.

Greater Scaup [1st Winter Male]

Bewick’s Swan [Adult]

Bewick’s Swan [Juvenile]

Common Teal [Male]

Great Spotted Woodpecker [Male]

The Water Rail also showed well from the Willow Hide. Back on the Rushy Pen, a Ruddy Shelduck Hybrid was on one of the islands. The 1st Winter Male Greater Scaup was still present in the Rushy Pen & showed very well. A very obliging Juvenile Rook was seen by the visitor centre. In the late afternoon, the Bittern showed very well at South Lake from the Discovery Hide.

Snow Goose [Adult - White Morph]

Black-tailed Godwit [Flock Winter]

Water Rail [Adult]

Ruddy Shelduck [Hybrid]

Rook [Juvenile]

Bittern [Adult]

Severn Beach 25th December 2022

We popped to Severn Beach in the afternoon to see the Black Redstart. The Female/1st Winter type bird was still present around the sea defences but was very mobile.

The Sharks

Yate 14th to 17th December 2022

A few Redwings paid a visit to our garden during a cold snap. Also our Male Blackcap returned on 15th for the winter. A couple of Long-tailed Tits paid a short visit.

Redwing [Adult]

Redwing [Adult]

Long-tailed Tit [Adult]

Redwing [Adult]

Blackcap [Male]

Marshfield 16th December 2022

Male Stonechat seen from West Littleton Road & a Red Kite over Tormarton Road.

Stonechat [Male]

Red Kite [Adult]

Kingsgate Park, Yate 23rd December 2022

Me & Dad had a walk around Kingsgate Park. There were 6 Tufted Duck, 9 Redwing, 8 Mallard, 7 Black-headed Gull, 4 Herring Gull, Little Grebe, 4 Moorhen, 5 Coot, 3 Grey Squirrel, 4 Collared Dove & 10 Wood Pigeon.

Mute Swan [Family]

Tufted Duck [Male]

Black-headed Gull [Adult Winter]

Black-headed Gull [Adult Winter]

Grey Squirrel [Adult]

Redwing [Adult]

Mallard [Male Moulting]

Tufted Duck [Female]

Little Grebe [Adult Winter]

Longleat 3rd December 2022

Nutricia Metabolics gave us some free tickets for Longleat. The animals that were on show around the Safari Park were Grant's Zebras, Warthog, Common Elands, Ankole Cattle, Bactrian Camels, Scimitar-horned Oryx, Red Deer, Père David's Deer, Southern White Rhino, African Lions, Cheetah, Spotted Hyena & Canadain Timber Wolves. We saw lots of Red Kite flying around as we drove around the safari park.

Ostrich [Male]

We stayed for the festival of lights which had a Roald Dahl theme. The lights featured the characters from the Twits, Esio Trot, Fantastic Mr Fox, George's Marvellous Medicine, The Enormus Crocodile, The Giraffe and the Pelly & Me, The Witches, Matilda, The BFG, Charlie & Chocolate Factory & James & the Gaint Peach.

Grant’s Zebra