Early February at Dowlais, Clevedon

 It has been mostly chilly and gloomy but there have still been birds to see each morning as I walk the loop.

Up to 4 Stonechats, for instance, usually along the seawall, but sometimes a pair move to the sluice, where a Cettis warbler sang on one day.

Out on the scrape there are usually from 30 to 75 Lapwings roosting

And these have been joined at high tide by a flock of up to 11 Shovellers, such as this male in front of the Redshanks etc.

With the approach of cold Easterly air this week a few thrushes have started to appear, moving away from frozen, snow covered ground where they cannot feed.

These have included increases in the numbers of Song Thrushes and Blackbirds

As well as an influx of Redwings and a few Fieldfares (The latter staying out of camera range)

The cold grey weather seems to have kept the sightings of birds of prey down but I did see a Peregrine briefly carrying lunch, probably a Redshank !

This morning, two female Sparrowhawks were disputing who had hunting rights over Strode road and display will probably start soon

If this cold snap continues I would expect things to get busier very soon and will be doing my best to document it most days.