December 27th 2009

A magical day on my planet
Started the day trawling the valley with Dave looking for owls in the valley concentrating on the Hill and Flecknoe Road but we had no luck so just before first light settled down to a coffee watching the Southam Rd field. We did not have to wait long before the Barn owl appeared followed by a Long-eared Owl that flew across the Southam Road from the direction of Draycote Water. As the light improved a post roost of gulls started gathering in the fields on the opposite side of road and we managed an adult Yellow-legged Gull before two dogs appeared from the nearby farm and flushed them. As they flew off we picked out an adult Glaucous Gull as it passed us.
Did not appear to be any new arrivals at the pond as we walked too rainbow corner managing the 3 female Common Scoter, 2 Great-northern Diver, 70+ Pochard while the male Smew had moved back to the eastern side of reservoir and was near the visitors centre.
After a turkey free breakfast we arrived at Brandon Marsh just in time to get brief but poor views of a Bittern flying over goose pool but we need not have been down hearted as we had brilliant close views 15 minutes later as one flew towards the carlton hide before veering off and out of sight. It was reported showing well on the west marsh but no sign of it by the time we arrived but in the area we had 40+ Lesser Redpoll, Goldcrest, Treecreeper and 20 Long-tailed Tit. Also seen around the reserve were Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Snipe and another Treecreeper.
Stopped off at Lawford Heath with only a few birds around the farm but the adjacent fields held 70 Golden Plover, 300 Starling and hundreds of distant gulls and corvids. Back at Dave’s and he had Light Brown Apple Moth and Dark Chestnut in his trap.

Just a reminder that I have a walk on Tuesday 11am and the weather is not promising but I will still be there unless the snow plough on me bike can’t cope.

Richard