Out with Dave before sunrise to Calcutt checking the area for our visit on New Years day and the temperature was -3 with a heavy frost but at least the weathermen were wrong about the fog – none apart from some mist around Draycote and Kites Hardwick as we passed by. Woodcock low over our heads and a Barn Owl hunting close too the road but unfortunately the best viewing area from the bridge is off limits due to road works.
Draycote Water was cooking on gas with 200+ finches leaving their roost with at least one Brambling heard and a few Siskins. Coal Tit on the feeders in the Rangers Yard. Three Great-northern Divers were together off the fishing platform and showing well, 2 Redshank in toft bay and a Little Owl in the field below farborough spit before if flew in to hedge to roost.
The continuing cold spell has finally started bringing birds in as smaller waters freeze up with a good increase in Goldeneye numbers with 36 counted and 4 Ruddy Duck off the north shore, 264 Great-crested Grebes, 300+ Canada Geese and a year tick in the form of a male Red-crested Pochard in gray’s barn as it swam amongst the willows.
Breakfast in Long Itchington and a chance to thaw out then off to Brandon Marsh which was 90% frozen over and we arrived at carlton hide just in time to see the Bittern fly from newlands, also seen were 2 Water Rail plus another 2 heard calling, 4 Siskin, Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 8 Snipe, 12 Gadwall and 78 Shoveler.
Lawford Heath had Coal Tit, 3 Buzzards, 6 Meadow Pipit, Tree Sparrow, 20+ Yellowhammer, 30+ Stock Dove and Corn Bunting all seen from the disused barn on ling lane. Back at Dave’s enjoying dinner and a male Blackcap was on his feeders. Late afternoon a Sparrowhawk scared the sugar out of my garden birds
Richard
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