Magic, woke to low cloud, light mild south south easterly wind and light rain so getting to the pond was a priority and I was lucky that Colin Potter was on his way there and kindly offered me a lift. We arrived at 8:25 and farborough bank had over 100 Meadow Pipit and while checking them out a Red Kite flew over our heads being mobbed by corvids and as we watched it fly down the eastern end of Grandborough valley towards Northamptonshire more Meadow Pipits could be seen flying south.
Further along farborough bank a Yellow Wagtail was seen and the first of many groups of hirundines flew past. Our total count was 180 Meadow Pipit, 160 House Martin and 80 Swallow with some lingering to feed over the sailing club car park or the country park. Once we arrived in toft bay then the Lesser Scaup was easy to find as the wind was forcing the tufted flock to seek shelter close to toft bank and I had the best view since its arrival despite the rain starting again.
While hoping the rain would cease a Snipe flew out of toft bay and 2 Golden Plover crossed the reservoir and from farborough spit we found a distant adult Yellow-legged Gull amongst 10 Lesser Black-back Gulls. Hung around in the café for a while but as the rain continued we called it quits.
Also seen were 3 Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap and 30 Goldfinch and back at the car park a Fieldfare flew over.
Back home I had time to do a few domestics then it decided I needed a change of scenery so back out again to Paxton Gravel Pit, Cambridgeshire to see the Buff Breasted Sandpiper and Glossy Ibis that have been there a couple of days. The first winter Glossy Ibis was on show when we arrived from the southwest corner of Diddington Pit but had a wait for the Buff Breasted Sandpiper to show. Also seen were 2 Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk and Little Egret
Richard
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