March 11th 2008

Out before first light to Draycote with the intention of beating the joggers, walkers, pram pushers etc before they flushed off any migrants along the banks and managed to find a White Wagtail feeding half way between farborough bank and toft bay with Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits and further on near inlet at least Sand Martin 2 were feeding over water. Goosander 9, Shoveler 3 female, Ruddy Duck female and a few Goldeneye noted. Back home for breakfast and housework, the garden feeders produced 3 Brambling including adult male which had a different head pattern to the previous one which I have not seen for a while, also 3 Bullfinch, female Siskin and Sparrowhawk over. Second visit to do roost was marred by torrential rain and strong winds with even stronger gust which on the plus side brought down Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin 4 and more Sand Martins (8) while on the minus side, wet underwear. Glaucous Gull pale first winter, third winter Iceland Gull and Kittiwake adult in a very confused roost - poor things were desperate for shelter.

Richard