March 8th 2011

Overnight frost made for a chilly start at the pond this morning but clear sky’s soon warmed the place up with overnight arrivals of single Meadow Pipit and Snipe while Teal, Wigeon and Goosander numbers had halved from yesterdays totals.
Bob managed to locate 4 Brambling behind the inlet for me after I struggled to find only one while the male and female Scaup were off hensborough bank and Smew off farnborough bank. Other birds of note were 4 Raven and a couple of Lesser Redpoll and Siskin on the north bank seen by Bob. Also present was an unidentified Bee and a Honey Wasp species but no butterflies seen today.

Kestrel by Bob Hazell

Back home 2 Ravens and a Buzzard were over the garden while the radio was broadcasting the chances of both Space Station and Shuttle going over early evening so after scores of text messages amongst like minded folk around the country I was out in the front garden at the allotted time. Unfortunately there was too much vegetation in the way so had to stand in the road for a clearer view of the low horizon while avoiding the traffic till I got on to them with the shuttle leading.

Richard