February 14th 2008

Woke up feeling on top of the world - pity the weather did not reflect that, cold, dull and overcast as I cycled to the valley. Barn owls at Sawbridge took umbrage with the Little Owls they are sharing barn with, getting very agitated when the Little Owls took up positions on the roof - normal place the Barn Owls prefer. Further on I was to late for any Long-eared Owls though one Barn Owl was still out hunting at 8am. Two pairs of Stonechat, 3 Red-legged and one Grey Partridge and 4 Raven's over. Cycling back home I managed Tree Sparrow, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 23 Golden Plover near Willoughby cricket pitch, 32 Long-tailed Tits crossing over the A45, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and another Little Owl perched in old tree near the prison.
Garden feeders had 4 Brambling (two female, one adult winter and one immature male), 4 Siskin, 3 Bullfinch, 6 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Doves and 2 Coal Tit.
Back out again for roost at Draycote. Lesser Scaup still in toft bay and starting to look smart as it enters adult plumage. Great-northern Diver out in centre, Shoveler, Ruddy Duck female, Pintail female in biggen bay, two Great-spotted and one Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Treecreeper, 2 Jay and 10 Bullfinch. The roost was hard work with poor light, cold and light wind and managed to find first winter Glaucous Gull, first winter Med Gull, 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and 2nd winter Caspian Gull.

Richard