March 4th 2008

A very long day, but a cracking one. Out by 4:30am in time to see two Barn Owls near Sawbridge but moving on again failed to see any Long-eared Owls, just one Barn Owl and the field adjacent Fox Covert had a superb Woodcock feeding out from the edge of wood along with 6 Red-legged Partridge and Treecreeper in the covert. Heading towards Lower Shuckburgh I picked up Raven 2, Great-spotted Woodpecker and by the bridge over the Grand Union Canal Willow Tit. Spent an hour watching the skyline above Shuckburgh Wood seeing Buzzard 3, Raven and Sparrowhawk. Reversing my route back in to valley towards Draycote I had Stonechat pair, plenty of Yellowhammers, small groups of Starlings Long-tailed Tits and Bullfinches.
The Lesser Scaup at Draycote was in gray’s barn, toft bay before flying off where later on it was seen in rainbow corner before flying back In to toft bay. The longest flight I have seen it do in 98 days and must mean its thinking of going. Apart from Wigeon numbers (120) most duck species numbers are way down, Pochard 20, Gadwall 4, Teal 30, Goldeneye 20 and Goosanders 9 and the same goes for Great-crested Grebes.
After coffee with Francoise and Olli it was time to do the roost which due to the north west wind the best place was from the valve tower and by 5pm many of the larger gulls were less than 300 yards away so had great views until they went out in to the centre. Glaucous Gull 3 (first winter, pale first winter & second winter) Iceland Gull white first winter, Caspian Gull 3rd winter, adult and near adult Yellow-legged Gulls and adult winter Little Gull. Rock Pipit was on draycote bank and other birds seen were Buzzard 3, Jay and 20+ Redwing.

Richard