Brown Owl

We found this lovely Tawny Owl just outside Southill village. It was extremely cooperative, and presumably just digesting its prey (which you can see surrounding its talons). I think it could be a rat?

I think perhaps a bit more Owling is in the offing over the coming weeks...

Berry gobbler

Lots of snow and these things around at the moment. Redwing, MVCP, 19th Dec 09.

It needs a shave

Just back from 14 days in the Gambia. I spent about five days doing 'serious' birding, and the rest duding around the hotel grounds, spending plenty of time by the swimming pool. This gaudy beast was found just behind our room. Bearded Barbet. The Gambia, December 2009.

Ed ticks Caspian shocker!

I thought it might have been a hopeless task this afternoon. I looked at the tip and very few gulls were on it. I then looked at the fields and I could only find a handful of birds. Quest was equally poor, with just a few early-afternoon loafers. Ed's mission to find one of the Caspian Gulls today was looking decidedly dicey!

I met up with him at 2pm and we did the usual circuit - tip, field, pit. It was quiet. We decided to have a look at Broggy and let the gulls assemble prior to roosting. Broggy was full of duck as usual, with up to five Scaup bobbing around in front of the watch point. However, as nice as they are, it wasn't what Ed was after!

We ended up back at the pre-roost pit. A few more birds had drifted in, but nothing that resembled a Caspo. I went through them again, and found this boy paddling in the water - score!

I say 'boy' but its such a demure thing, that I suspect it's probably a female. Que life tick for Ed - Cha-ching!

Looking at photos of the first-winter we had a few weeks ago, it's clear this is a new bird - that makes five individuals in the last three weeks.

Captain Caspian

I spent most of today 'brickpitting'. That is chasing gulls from tip, to field, to pit, and back again. I ended up with two Caspian Gulls - an adult from last week, and this new bird - a 3rd winter.

After complaining about the lack of Caspian's so far this winter, I've now seen four in the last two weeks. November has to be one of the best months to find these chaps in the UK?