Tuesday 13 January 2009

January 13th 2009

Brandon Marsh at first light had Barn Owl and the Bittern showed well after flying in from newlands but no sign of Little Egret. Lawford Heath was again quiet mainly Fieldfare and Starling with one Raven over. Draycote Water was even quieter apart from hordes of kodak fiddlers and the “have you seen the” crowd and there's been a big exodus of duck and grebe. One brief sighting of the Red-throated Diver from farborough spit and despite some extensive searching by me and Mark Phillips from hensborough bank it was not seen till four hours later when it showed in toft bay and it did not look to good. It was on the surface with wings and neck resting on the surface calling softly before diving and heading back to centre of reservoir. The Red-necked Grebe was close in and male Smew a little further out, both off farborough bank along with Shag. There seems to be only three Great-northern Divers left with all of them near the valve tower early afternoon. Also seen were 7 Meadow Pipits, Golden Plover, 8 Long-tailed Tit and the hybrid falcon. On the way out a mixed group of finches feeding on alders on the M45 embankment included 15 Siskin, 3 Lesser Redpoll and 10 Goldfinch.
Dave Baseley put me on to 6 Waxwing which flew over his small holding on the Flecknoe Rd so it’s valley bashing for me tomorrow.

Richard

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