I checked the disused railway line that borders the Golf Course which becomes Cycle Route 41 to Birdingbury Bridge between Frankton and Birdingbury just west of the pond. It was mega cold, down to -8c with the wind chill and a thin layer of fresh snow and ice. Tawny Owls perched where the tree canopy covers the railway near the golf course.
By the time I reached Draycote Village smaller birds were active with 3 Nuthatch, 9 Bullfinch, 13 Long-tailed Tit and Treecreeper seen in the village then made my way up to the valve tower at Draycote Water and walked to rainbow corner. Still plenty of Goosander with 49 off the valve tower, 6 in rainbow and a further 12 seen in the distance off farborough bank along with the male Smew while 4 Dunlin, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail on inlet. On my return a Peregrine was over valve tower and the hedgerow down to Draycote Village had 18 Yellowhammer and Brambling.
I struggled to get up the hill out of Draycote due to the ice and became a cropper a couple of times so licked me wounds at Blooms Garden Centre reading no end of text reporting Waxwing from Cawston, Dunchurch, Wolston, Grandborough and Long Lawford so the patch is well and truly enjoying these gems – hope they will stay in to the New Year.
Lawford Heath had a day flying Barn Owl, 2 Raven and 5 Buzzard while Potsdam as the snow started falling had 19 Corn Bunting, 3 Tree Sparrow, 24 Yellowhammer and female Brambling struggling to find food in the conditions and 2 Waxwing were in Cawston on my way home though there favourite bush is running out of berries so don’t’ expect them to stay much longer.
Just outside my patch Dave L had 60+ Waxwing in Cubbington.
Richard
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