Bristol

Spent the weekend with friends in Bristol.  On Friday I went to visit family in South Wales, and resisted the temptation to "twitch" the yellowthroat - really NOT my style of bird watching.  

Checking the internet it seemed to be very well organised with detailed instructions on where to park and exactly which branch of which bush the bird could be seen.   By Friday evening the instructions had been amended to include "have patience and do not upset the locals".   Glad to have missed the furore.   One buzzard, seveeral carrion crown and a family of magpie were my welsh list for the day.

Kestrel

Today (Sunday) we took a stroll around part of Chew Valley Lake, the tearoom there is great, and gives good views of the lake.   About a dozen goldeneye were showing off their handsome plumage - the males and females seemed to be paired up which fits in with the Kent birds I saw ten days ago displaying.

We had great views of a kestrel as it sat in the top of a leafless tree with brilliant sunshine showing off its beautiful colours.

Over 60 mute swan, 100+ mallard, teal, pied wagtail, cormorant, great-crested grebe, little grebe, robin, dunnock, blue tit, great tit and long-tailed tit were all present.