Trip to Cotswold Water Park - Saturday 5th March 2016

Went to CWP with Tarn, Fin and Charlie. Plenty of flooding around so a day for wellies.

We found a Siberian Warbler and captured some good shots.

We then set off to Pit 28, 29 and 30 to find the Smew that had been spotted the day earlier. We found no sigh of it even after walking a couple of miles and speaking to the birder who had originally reported its presence.

I decided to walk back for the car on my own, which we had parked some distance away from our exit point from the park. On my return, Tarn told me that the "birder" had passed by once again and confirmed that the Smew was now present once more. We made the decision that we did not have the legs to go back, but would save the Smew for our next trip.

We stopped off in Malmesbury on the way home for a well earned hot chocolate! Great trip and Rovers won again!

Trip to Westhay Moor Reserve - Thursday 3rd March

Had a usual day out with Pete Blanchard and we decided to go to Westhay Moor Reserve in Somerset. A really bright day and some great birds to photograph including Cetti's Warbler, Bittern and Water Rail.

To finish the day we travelled to Uphill near Weston-Super-Mare to capture the Short-eared Owl. Although dark and cloudy at this point in the day, we managed a record shot!

Another great day with Pete!

Trip to Farmoor Reserve - Wednesday 2nd and Friday 4th March

My first outing to Farmoor Reservoir wasa bit if a disaster in terms of the birds spotted. The very windy and cloudy weather resulted in very few birds presenting themselves to be photographed. The birds I did see at Pink Hill meadow included a Marsh Harrier, Teal, Buzzard, Kestrel and Bullfinch.

The Bittern and Great Northern Diver that were spotted the day earlier were not around.

I returned a couple of days later and managed some excellent shots of the two juvenile Great Northern Diver.

Farmoor is a fantastic facility and well worth a visit!