December 4th 2008

Two puncture this mornings on top of the cold, wet and windy weather did not help my mood so I only have myself to blame for not concentrating as I biked along the Hill Rd in the Grandborough valley and flushed a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker from the entrance to Valley Farm and could only manage poor views of it flying away. Bloody good record for this part of the valley. Up till then the valley had been pretty dire so a lesson learnt which paid off further down the road when checking a group of Common and Black-headed Gulls that held a first winter Med Gull half hidden as it sat sheltering from the wind. Also in area were 9 Stock Dove, 6 Bullfinch 14 Yellowhammer, and a Raven.
The journey to Napton Reservoir was uneventful apart from many Redwing and Fieldfare feeding on any hedgerow that had not been decimated by the barbaric cutting methods of the local farmers use, and at the reservoir things are similar with a lot of “gardening” being done that is making the place pretty sterile and very little seen apart from Kingfisher and a Water Rail heard.
Cycling back along the A426 I had 2 Raven, 2 Buzzard and 4 Red-legged Partridge and arrived at Draycote Water in time to see Willow and Coal Tit but no Brambling’s near the Rangers Yard. The long staying Red-necked Grebe and 2 Great-northern Divers were off farborough bank, Little Owl was back in its usual haunt, 12 Golden Plover flew over heading west and Oystercatcher in toft bay before doing the roost. The light was poor again as another front came in but I managed 2 first winter Glaucous Gulls and a first winter Yellow-legged Gull while freezing me nuts off.
Also seen were the regular (if your lucky) female Merlin taking a keen interest in the 60+ Yellowhammers, first winter Shag and another 2 Great-northern Divers near the valve tower, 9 Siskin, Kingfisher, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Richard