October 22nd 2010

Out with Bob to the pond but it was dire with our walk to toft shallows only producing first winter and adult Yellow-legged Gull, 40 Meadow Pipit, 3 Green Woodpecker, Dunlin, 5 Redwing and a few Fieldfare over. Buddy Dave returned from his Kenya safari this morning so we went to the Just So café at Napton this afternoon to listen to his endless sightings of animals and birds before looking at Napton Reservoir. The blustery conditions had brought in a pair of Red-crested Pochard and there were 4 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 9 Pochard, 24 Wigeon, 21 Teal and 19 Mute Swan. Also seen were a few Fieldfare flocks going over and a Cetties Warbler.
Back home late afternoon and three enormous flocks of Fieldfare went over the garden numbering well over 600 birds and included a few Redwings. Paul Cashmore kindly sent me this video he took of a aberrant plumaged female Great-spotted Woodpecker at Napton on the Hill this morning and I also have included a still from the video.


Richard