January 17th 2010

We spent most of the day in the valley with a Barn Owl just outside Woolscott then took the county road to Sawbridge managing 3 Grey Partridge and 7 Red-legged Partridge plus 2 Tree Sparrow.
The walk from Sawbridge to Wolfhamcote produced 200 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing, 10 Golden Plover and a Little Owl before moving on to Grandborough. The Great Grey Shrike was showing for a change along with the male Merlin, 2 Buzzard and a Raven while 5 Tree Sparrow, 8 Yellowhammer and Sparrowhawk were by the barn. No sign of the Bar-tailed Godwit at Napton Reservoir but another locality tick in the shape of a female Red-crested Pochard along with 2 Cetties Warbler, Grey Wagtail and Water Rail.
Draycote Water had 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese in fields below Farborough bank, 2 Great-northern Diver, male Smew and female Common Scoter.

Richard