Christmas Antics...

So finally after an extended Christmas break that involved skiing and my overeating and sleeping, I have come to write an abridged version of the bird events that happened during this time.

I went skiing with Dad and brother for a week in Serre-Chevalier, otherwise known generally as Alpine France between Grenoble and Turin. Beautiful week and sad to leave. Was pleased to see what I'm sure were crested tits and some coal tits whilst out there, along with countless alpine chough flocks. I know virtually nothing about European birds but my Collins book has helped me to that end... do I add it to a list or not...?

Upon my return to Aylesbury, I slept massively and then did a spot of birdwatching from the garden window at 10am the following morning (28/12/10). Got a massive 21 species in about 30-40 minutes of watching, including a couple of really mega birds presumably relocating to our garden due to poor weather (snow and ice). The highlights were moorhen, 3 reed bunting, 3 bullfinch (2 male, 1 female), male great spotted woodpecker and finally a male siskin! Garden and Aylesbury tick right there, feeding with the greenfinches, of which there were several.

The afternoon of the 29th, Dad and I headed out to Weston Turville reservoir where he and countless others had seen a bittern. Spent a good amount of time there but unfortunately no bittern to speak of. However, saw a fox, a little egret took off from the small stream, a nice view of a jay, and I'm pretty sure we heard (and saw one of) what were 2 water rails but light was fading and mist rising so it was a tough call.

Finally, today, Dad and I watched birds from the back window again, then went for a walk out along the canal and through the rare breeds farm at around 1:30 onwards. Highlights included song thrush, many bullfinches, many redwing and very many fieldfares. Quite a few green woodpecker sightings and a flying snipe over the canal and away. A female great spotted woodpecker was drumming and I was trying to communicate with a stick and a fence post. Seemed possibly to work, but not for sure. A couple of skylarks flew over. A pair of teal on the brook pond and a few reed bunting in the preceding field were good to see. Finally a kingfisher darted across the brook pond, rounding off the day at 33 species - a good number!

Back to London tomorrow... expect more Rainham posts!