October 27th 2009

A Barn Owl was perched on the hay bales behind the cow and silage pens of Rookery Hall, Lawford Heath before being disturbed by farming activity and flew off in to the early morning rain and murk. Later on there was at least 2 Corn Bunting, 12 Yellowhammer, 60 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch, 4 Tree Sparrow and 67 Collared Dove, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 8 Long-tailed Tit, Jay, 2 Shoveler, 3 Teal dotted around the heath.
There were plenty of large gulls between Blue Boar and Potsford Dam Farms’ but nothing special amongst them and the fields adjacent to the A45/M45 roundabout contained 12 Redwing feeding in the hedgerow.
A House Martin was over Thurlaston village near the old windmill as I cycled passed and was also seen over Draycote Water later.
The pond was quiet because of the damp conditions with only Grey Wagtail in toft bay, 20 Meadow Pipits farborough bank and a distant Shelduck in biggen bay to show for my efforts so after a coffee I took a chance on the country park as the cloud was breaking.
Well it paid off handsomely with 557 Fieldfare, 17 Redwing, 112 Starling, 234 Skylark and 10 Siskin over in an hour but ground to a halt as soon as the cloud came back and a light shower started. As I started to leave a very nervous and hungry female Scaup arrived in toft bay and showed well enough in the scope to rule out any tampering with its gene pool. Also 2 female Goldeneye.
Also seen were 2 Comma, a Vapourer in the country park and on the visitors centre wall a Rush Veneer a migrant and November Moth agg.
I presume the Lesser Scaup is still present but as the fishing season has been extended by one week for bank fishermen the Tufted Duck flock is mobile. Also of interest to pond watchers is that the water level continues to drop and farborough spit is starting to show with fishermen able to wade out another 30 yards.
After dinner a further 148 Fieldfare and 40 skylark flew over my garden.
Finally I am doing one of me walk this Thursday at 11am. Meet in the visitors centre. Considering the disturbance in toft bay if on arrival there are no duck in toft bay I will walk towards the inlet instead – if your late just check with reception which way I have gone.

Richard