October 2021

31st. Slimbridge WWT. Three white-fronted geese, and Allington, a 3-year old Bewick's swan is the first returning bird this winter. The escaped Ross's goose was on the Dumbles, and ca. 30 golden plover on the Tack Piece.

A juvenile spoonbill moved around the site in squally weather.

Knot and black-tailed godwit from Hogarth Hide.

23rd-28th. St Ives. I spent my free time watching a shoal of Atlantic bluefin tuna feeding in the bay. They were incredibly huge and powerful, leaping from the water. They would circle around garfish, sometimes making them leap from the water in shoals.

Probably my favourite image - the herring gulls provide scale, and the tuna has a garfish in its mouth.

The kestrels on the Island are always great to watch, and it was fantastic to see 2 chough feeding there too - I saw presumably the same birds flying over Norway Stores the preceding day.

Superb rainbows in St Ives Bay.

About 60 grey seals were at Mutton Cove. including an orange-tagged youngster.

16th. Good to catch up with firecrests again.

10th. Crabtree Hill and Woorgreens in the Forest of Dean. ca. 70 lesser redpoll, lots of siskin and a crossbill. Ravens, buzzards and 3 stonechats too.

2nd. We set up a camera trap to see what was visiting our recycling bins in Bishopston, Bristol.