January 26th 2010

Sorry folks but nothing new to report.
Bob and I tied to do the patch justice today enjoying a good days birding but failing to find anything I haven’t been reporting for the last two weeks.
We started the day at the pond walking out to toft bay with the male Smew off farborough bank near the fishing pontoons and the female Common Scoter drifting out in the centre. Great-northern Divers were elusive with one popping up in front of us on the way back and another reported by other observers off draycote bank. Two interesting duck movements were a male Pintail in toft bay till it flew off down the Grandborough valley at 10:15 and 3 Shelduck in biggen bay also left to the east at 09:45. Duck numbers generally have dropped with only 90 Teal, 10 Gadwall, 10 Wigeon and 30 Pochard noted though there still a few Goldeneye around but never got round to counting them and passerines were virtually non-existent.
Next stop was the Grandborough Valley but even with the sun coming out we failed find the Great Grey Shrike making do with 5 Buzzard, 8 Long-tailed Tit, Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, 100 Linnet and a few Stock Dove. Moving on to Napton Reservoir we found a mixed flock of 200 Redwing and Fieldfare along the entrance road but the reservoir itself only had 2 Pochard, 8 Mute Swan and 160 Common Gull so a little disappointing.

Corn Bunting high up in a tree, Lawford Heath by bob Hazell
After a brew we continued on to Lawford Heath seeing a couple of Buzzard on the way where 11 Corn Bunting, 100 Chaffinch, 20 House Sparrow and 25 Yellowhammer were present and our final port of call was the Church Lawford Bewick’s Swan which was just yards away from the A426 in the kale field.

Yeah I know its another Bewick's Swan shot but when it goes we may not see one on my patch for the rest of the year so enjoy.

Richard