I felt a lot better when I woke so was down the valley just after first light with 250 Golden Plover in fields behind Willoughby village cricket club along with a few Fieldfare and Redwing and two Grey Partridge in the left hand field just before the village of Sawbridge. Very little seen between Sawbridge and Grandborough but things started to change once I was on the hill rd with 500 Fieldfare and 200 Redwing near valley fields farm, a stunning female Merlin perched by the side of the road giving very prolonged views (out came the sketch book) and a Little Owl by barn farm. Other birds seen in this area were 2 Raven, 2 Buzzard and 4 Lesser Redpoll.
Draycote Water was cooking on gas. The Red-necked Grebe was 200 yards off farborough bank drifting further out till it re-appeared late afternoon in toft bay. Great- northern Divers on occasions were just as elusive though by early afternoon all five were showing (three off draycote bank and 2 near fishing pontoons). Toft shallows had up to 36 Siskin 4 Lesser Redpoll 2 Chiffchaff and 3 Brambling.
New arrivals included a female Common Scoter in toft bay and the Goosander flock has increased to 18 while 5 White-fronted Geese flew low over toft bay 3pm and may have landed near toft farm. Also seen were Kingfisher 2, Jay, Pochard 12, Goldeneye 16, Buzzard 3, Peregrine, Water Rail, Shag, Little Owl.
Bob and Francoise had the hybrid Peregrine over draycote bank at mid-day which appeared over toft bay just before dusk scaring the brown stuff out of the gull roost and Adie had a male Merlin.
Feathered Thorn on wall of cafe - don't think we will see many moths for a while once this cold spell reaches us on Saturday.
Richard
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