This morning was one of those good to be out days with a very clear sky's and a hard frost as me and Dave searched the grandborough valley just before dawn. Rewarded with two Long-eared Owls hunting a set-aside field with fly over views of Barn Owls as a bonus. The Long-eareds hunted well but soon disappeared with daylight improving. A scarce bird in Warwickshire and a potential breeder so not disclosing exact location. As we left a Stonechat appeared plus a few Redwing, Fieldfare and two Buzzards.
Draycote Water was very calm and sunny by 8 o'clock and as we walked farnborough bank with Kevin Grewcock towards toft there were at least 386 Greater Black-backed Gulls still loafing around - many of them immatures and confirms the increase in numbers this winter with possibly as many as 800 or more roosting here. Male Smew was off farnborough bank and the Lesser Scaup looked great close inshore in good light. No sign of Long-tailed Duck. Searching alders in toft shallows we had over 60 Siskin in a loose flock. The return trip produced first winter Yellow-legged Gull, two Grey Wagtails, a very smart looking Sparrowhawk and off farnborough spit a sweep of reservoir produced 328 Great-crested Grebes - a significant rise in numbers from last week.
Our final destination was Brandon Marsh where we had 2 Coal Tit, 4 Treecreeper's, 10 Siskin, 20+ Long-tailed Tits, male and three female Goldeneye and a brief view of a Cetties Warbler
Richard
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