March 4th 2010

I started the day at Flecknoe village looking for yesterdays report of a possible Short-eared Owl but probably a long gone migrant so had to be content with 2 Raven, 8 Yellowhammer, 4 Red-legged Partridge and 4 Tree Sparrow while near the village of Shuckburgh a Little Owl was enjoying the spring sunshine. At least 3 more Ravens seen and a walk over the hills produced a distant calling Lesser-spotted Woodpecker but the chances of seeing it are slim with out trespassing in to the woods. Only other bird of note was a Marsh Tit while other birds seen were 2 Jay, 6 Buzzard, Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk. Next stop was my first visit for the year to Napton on the Hill and managed a pair of Siskin behind the church, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Coal Tit and distant views of 4 Raven and 3 Buzzard towards Priors Marston. There was little difference at Napton Reservoir from my last visit so pushed on to the pond for the roost managing the 2 Great-northern Divers off farborough spit along with the male Smew while in toft bay there were 2 female and 2 male Goosander and an odd looking female duck which was probably a Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid. Ringed Plover heard calling but not seen. The roost had adult winter plumage and partial summer plumage Med Gull and decided to stay long after it got dark hoping for an owl but zilch.

Richard