February 18th 2010

I was becoming bored by seeing the same old things over and over again so I gave birding a rest and concentrated on my painting of the Brandon Marsh Bittern and the Grandborough Great Grey Shrike so not surprisingly after three days I had a desperate need to get out in to the field again.
Unfortunately I chose the wrong day with fog putting paid to any chance of seeing any owls along the Southam Road and a check the rough pasture fields near Napton Reservoir only produced poor views of one as it drifted off in to the gloom. Visibility did not improve as I walked the reservoir perimeter getting brief views of Water Rail and Cetties Warbler and a walk to Shuckburgh Wood from the village of Lower Shuckburgh became a nightmare as snow showers reduced visibility even further. There is limited access to the wood from various footpaths so only managed 2 Raven, 8 Bullfinch and Great-spotted Woodpecker.
With the weather not improving I dumped the bike and accepted a lift to Draycote Water and could just about make out the shape of 2 Great-northern Diver off farborough spit and 2 Shelduck flew in to toft as the snow fall continued putting paid to any chance of doing the roost. After seeing a Lesser Redpoll behind toft shallows it was a long trudge home arriving cold, wet, tired and ready to kill. Roll on April and a good dose of desert sunshine.

Richard