March 25th 2010

The garden was full of activity this morning with a male Siskin, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit and 2 Sparrowhawk.
Out with Bob to look at the pond and the first part of our walk to toft bay was quiet with 3 Sand Martin, 2 Great-northern Diver, 7 Goldeneye, 8 Gadwall and 2 Shoveler but as the day warmed up so did the birds. I returned the way we had come while Bob continued to do his lap and I managed Grey Wagtail and a distant male Common Scoter while Bob was inundated with Chiffchaffs and between us we estimated 50 birds on site. Among the chiffys I had at least one Willow Warbler with Bob enjoying another 3 and Wheatears also started to show with a male off farborough bank and a male and female near rainbow corner.
One had to keep a beady eye on the sky especially after Stratford on Avon’s Alpine Swift yesterday and buddy Dave ringing with news of a Red Kite flying south over his work place in Butlers Leap, Rugby this morning and though nothing bionic was found at least 22 Buzzard and 4 Sparrowhawk were noted. Also seen were regular migrating flocks of Fieldfare and Starling estimated at 500 each all heading north east and this might have been the reason why other observers including Steve Batt saw a Merlin – possibly migrating north with its food supply?. Also 2 Brimstone Butterfly at the pond and 3 in Dunchurch
I arrived back home in the afternoon to a Chiffchaff feeding in the garden holly and when the rain came 16 Sand Martin went over.

Richard