March 29th 2009

The start of British Summer Time and me and the old one were out early enjoying the spring weather in minus 2 degrees!!! , but at least the wind had dropped for the first time this week so made for a pleasant mornings birding.
Twelve Fieldfare flew north over Southam Road and 2 Chiffchaff were in the country park when we arrived at Draycote Water. A walk out to farborough spit joined by the Hall brothers at the spit produced 3 Great-northern Divers all together out in the centre and easy to see in the mirror like conditions, Red-necked Grebe off the spit, 19 Sand Martin and a Swallow feeding near T buoy and 14 Goldeneye. Other sightings included Redshank heard calling, 10 Meadow Pipit and 2 Redwing flew over while the Hall brothers located another 3 Chiffchaff.
After breakfast a check of Lawford Heath produced 4 Buzzard, 150 Fieldfare and 50 Redwing but missed the Chiffchaff, Swallow and Blackcap seen by the Hall Brothers later in the day and at Brandon Marsh we managed 15 Sand Martin, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 8 Buzzard, 2 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Redshank and 39 Snipe plus a few calling Cetties and Chiffchaffs. Two Swallow perched on wires as we left.
In the afternoon 2 Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk flew over my garden before going back down to the pond early evening to do the roost just in time to see an Osprey and surprisingly a first winter Glaucous Gull no doubt on its way back north.

Richard