26th December 2015 - 5th January 2016

The last cpl of weeks of 2015 were spent locally birding without the camera but on the 26th December after gaining permission from the fisheries manager I managed a few photos of the juv Great Northern Diver at Whitacre pool,Ladywalk,Warks........

On the 27th December we headed east into Norfolk & spent a night down in Wells with good friends Dean Eades & Alicia picking up some good birds over the 2 days inc 3 Hen Harrier,3 Shore Lark & 1 juv Rough-legged Buzzard along with plenty of other goodies like Barn Owl,Woodcock,Brambling,RB Merganser,Avocet,Water Pipit etc (3 Lifers for Donna) so a good cpl of days....

On the 29th December we headed back over to Hinksford,Staffs for the Hoopoe but despite 3+ hrs on site again the bird wasn't playing ball....

The 1st cpl of days off the New Year were spent picking up Year ticks with some good birds inc Jack Snipe,Bittern,GN Diver,Scaup,Smew & Tree Sparrow to name a few..... On the 5th Donna had to go back to work & with the weather settled I decided to head to Coleshill GP,Warks to again look for Owls despite several negative visits with none seen since 13th Dec!! My luck was in with 1 Short-eared Owl & 2 Barn Owl + several Raven overhead....