A bitty but interesting day.

Overcast and gloomy with light rain, 3°, light NE.

A message early this morning from PR to say that the Geese were on the South Stoke side of the river, then 2 hours later another message from AD to say they were back on the Cholsey side.

I popped down to take a quick gander at the Geese (excuse the pun). And the 6 White fronted Geese were again consorting with a flock of Canada and Greylag Geese.

Not much else around, so I went down along the Bunk line. It then started to rain a bit heavier so, basically, I gave up and went back home.

Alan was out along the Bunk area, mid-afternoon and found a Stonechat but pretty quiet overall.

I ventured out again late afternoon with little more success. 2 Grey Wagtail, a Chiffchaff, a singing Mistle Thrush and a few Fieldfare and Redwing.

Later I went down to the garden around 17:00 and counted in excess of 3000 Corvids flying over, heading south-west. They were streaming over for approx. 20-25 minutes.

AD, PC & PR.

Grey Wagtail ↕

White-fronts again

Overcast and murky, 6°, light NE.

6 White-fronted Geese still present with Canada and Greylag Geese. Viewable from Ferry Lane or the Thames path.

All pics courtesy Alan.

White-fronts

Overcast with rain, 5°, light NE.

6 “Russian” White-fronted Geese turned up near Cholsey Marsh today. Initially found by Paul Rainsden at Little Stoke and then re-located by Ian Lewington on the Cholsey side of the river. Later in the day they flew back to the Little Stoke area. They were with a flock of c20 Canada Geese.

A rare visitor to Cholsey, last recorded in January 2011 when a flock of 45-50 turned up in various locations around the village.

AD, IL, MP, PR.

 courtesy Ian Lewington

courtesy Alan

courtesy Ian Lewington

courtesy Alan

The following is information from the BTO:

“This small, grey goose with white forehead blaze and black belly-bars is a winter visitor to wetlands and coastal marshes.

Two races of White-fronted Goose occur in the UK: the nominate race albifrons, which breeds in western Russia and is referred to as Russian, or European White-fronted Goose, and flavirostris, which breeds in western Greenland and is called Greenland White-fronted Goose. Greenland White-fronted Geese occur in the north and west of Britain and Ireland, whilst Russian White-fronted Geese can be found in the south and east.

Wetland Bird Survey data show the range of sites where the two races winter, and it is estimated that 10,000–12,000 Greenland White-fronts and 1,000–2,000 Russian White-fronts spend the winter months here in the UK.”

Hare coursers, Geese and an Owl

Sunny, 9°, breezy NW.

A bit of a mixed bag today.

Pretty quiet today and the birding somewhat overshadowed by hare coursers out at Lollingdon. Full details passed on to the Police.

The Police arrived but I am unaware of what ensued afterwards!

A small party of 5-7 Greenfinch seen out at Lollingdon. We get them regularly in the garden but a scarce bird out there for some reason.

Alan went to Little Wittenham where 3 Greater White-fronted Geese turned up and were associating with the Local Greylag Geese. A rare visitor to Oxfordshire and vary rare in Cholsey, the last record being in January 2011 for Cholsey. Photos follow.

And Gerry Sexton managed to get a great photo of a sleeping Barn Owl near Cholsey Marsh!

White-fronted Goose (all Geese photos courtesy Alan Dawson)

Barn Owl (courtesy Gerry Sexton)