March 18th 2012

Perseverance paid off when Dave and I plodded along to toft shallows this morning in poor visibility managing 2 Rock Pipit and two first for the year in 2 male Wheatear along farborough bank and a Chiffchaff in toft bay before reaching the board walk just as the fog started to lift. Having seen 2 Goldcrest we silently crossed the boardwalk hoping for Treecreeper but got eyeballed by a Woodcock that burst out from underneath and circled the bay before dropping back in to toft shallows. Other sightings included Fieldfare, Curlew, 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull and male Shoveler.
At least 30 Redwing were near Birdingbury Bridge on our way to the Long Itch Diner then after breakfast we gave Wormleighton Reservoir a check finding 2 Red-legged Partridge, Buzzard, Great-spotted Woodpecker and 20 Tree Sparrow. Unfortunately the authorities have decided to pump water from the canal back in to the reservoir and its full.
Back out to the pond in the afternoon finding 2 Sand Martin another first of the year for me, Dunlin and 2 Siskin in toft bay but unfortunately it threw it down so cleared off before the roost.

Richard