Hen party for scoters

Pre dawn visit to Lawford Heath produced a hunting Barn Owl and Tawny Owl perched while the Lawford Heath Lane finch flock were very active in the very cold conditions with some very smart looking male Brambling against a frosty background.

Thirty Two Common Scoter’s greeted our arrival at the pond which is one of our largest flocks we have had here for awhile and the largest group I have seen here that just contained females. Other duck included a long overdue Goosander with a male off draycote bank, 10 Gadwall, 90 Teal, 10 Pochard, 18 Gadwall, 17 Goldeneye and 7 Wigeon.

Lots of Goldcrest with 13 between toft shallows and sewage farm along with 29 Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll in the same areas.

The time spent on farborough bank searching the Grandborough valley paid off when a Short-eared Owl being mobbed by corvids came in from the east and appeared to go behind the country park, also noted were Peregrine and 2 Sparrowhawk.

A search of the country park produced a Nuthatch probably attracted to the area by the activity on the Rangers feeder station. Other sightings included 27 Long-tailed Tit, 10 Meadow Pipits and 5 Jay plus a Weasel.

Whooper and Scoter

Overnight arrivals at the pond included 4 Shelduck and a female Common Scoter and an increase in Teal with a 110 counted.
Mid morning 2 Whooper Swan flew over the west side of reservoir and appeared to go down in the leam valley. Other sightings included 18 Goldeneye, 4 Wigeon and 18 Gadwall. Colin reported the saddle bank Trees Sparrows still present.

Earlier we had 8 Tree Sparrow in the Grandborough valley while the finch flock in Lawford Heath Lane had an increase in Greenfinch numbers plus 3 Buzzards and a couple of Jays noted.

A few more duck

More rain overnight with a cool north easterly wind which brought in 6 Shoveler an increase in the Gadwall flock to 26 in toft shallows along with 60+ Teal, 4 Goldcrest, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 20 Siskin and 3 Lesser Redpoll. Between the weather fronts 120+ Golden Plover flew north and 300+ Lapwing appeared over the grandborough valley from farborough bank which had 15 Meadow Pipit. Two Ravens over the car park as we left.

Despite being cold and damp we had a look for the Lawford Heath Lane finch flock managing 25+ Brambling along with 20 Tree Sparrow and a single Lesser Redpoll amongst the Chaffinches.

Mega crap

After all the rain and wind over the last few days all we found at the pond were 8 Wigeon, 8 Pochard, 16 Goldeneye, 10 Meadow Pipit and 30 Siskin.

Blue Tornado

New build Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado photographed this morning slowly approaching Didcote East Junction behind Class 56 locomotive 56312 for access to the Great Western Society’s Didcote Railway Centre for a special event for Convenantors of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust to have a close-up view of her in BR blue livery for the first time.

Blustery

With a dry blustery morning it was a frustrating visit with fishermen and wildfowl wanting the same sheltered areas. The wildfowl lost so I will be glad to see the fishing season finish at the end of the month.

Bob managed to find a Chiffchaff in rainbow corner otherwise 4 Snipe, Tree Sparrow and 3 Raven were the only highlights.

Leam valley starting to flood, viewed from hensborough bank as the next weather front moves in over Napton and Shugborough which brought more heavy rain early evening.

Flooded out with Snipe

With almost 24 hours of rain, especially heavy and prolonged over night it was not surprising that many areas of the valley are starting to flood, even brooks and road side ditches that I hardly ever see any water in were brimming over.

Dave and I planned a lazy breakfast over a game of scrabble till it ceased but alas that wasn’t to be so after a hard fought draw we decided not to out stay our welcome and moved on to Napton Reservoir.

With the deluge continuing water was pouring in to the reservoir at hell of a rate and many of the Snipe had taken to the adjacent boggy fields or were flying around in large numbers and we ended up with a minimum count of a 110 almost doubling the record set on Sunday. Also present were 30 Golden Plover over, male Pochard, Cormorant and Kingfisher while the entrance road was full of winter thrushes and finches.

Moved on to the Baseley smallholding where we were treated to 3 more Snipe, 3 Lesser Redpolls, 30 Yellowhammer and 20 Tree Sparrow.

Our last stop was the pond but with poor visibility, rain becoming heavier and squelching boots we gave up for the comfort of a hot toddy and a chance to dry out. Dave thought he had the Black-necked Grebe briefly but I saw nowt due to fogged up lenses.