April 4th 2012

Dave and I managed a two hour visit to the pond in poring rain this morning but luckily the forecasted cold front with its increasing wind arrived just as we were leaving so we may have been soaked but at least we didn’t freeze our bits off. A male Yellow Wagtail and 2 Rock Pipit among 40+ Meadow Pipit on farborough bank with a Ruff on the island while Oystercatcher and Grey Plover flew over. Out in the centre over a 150 Swallow and 50 Sand Martin were hunting low over the water. Also noted were 6 Shoveler,10 Goldeneye, 4 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 3 Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaff.
Dried out in the Long Itchington diner then moved on to Brandon Marsh where it was bloody freezing with 8 House Martin, 10 Sand Martin and 6 Swallow looking for insects in the frequent rain, sleet and snow showers. Also seen were Nuthatch, 2 Redshank, 8 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher and Little Ringed Plover.
On our way home we tried Lawford Heath and found adult and first winter Iceland Gull and first winter Glaucous Gull roosting near the corner of Lawford Heath and Ling lane before they commuted back to the landfill site.

Richard