My earliest Black Tern

Very grateful for the updates from Paul C and Martin S reporting House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallow from Napton Reservoir and Yellow Wagtail and Black Tern from the pond so once the showers had stopped me and Bob were soon looking for them.

The Black Tern was off lin croft point which is my earliest record since my first Black Tern here in 1977. The Yellow Wagtails were strangely elusive but 2 finally showed in the hedgerow behind farborough spit. Other sightings included 5 Snipe on the scrape, 8 Redwing, 7 Swallow, 12 Meadow Pipit, 12 Wigeon, 9 Goldeneye, 2 Buzzard and a Peregrine which appeared overhead and watched as it hunted the reservoir and Grandborough valley.

Unfortunately an evening visit to Crewe to see a double header train movement backfired when they did not show.

Another Oak Beauty in last nights trap gave Bob a chance for a few pics.

Spring has sprung

Well a trickle really.

Finally managed to get out with Bob to the pond and we had 2 Swallow, 7 Sand Martin and 3 Willow Warblers as new arrivals along with a nice male Wheatear though we missed a female. Only other summer visitors present were Chiffchaffs but they have been around for sometime favouring the north side and still in good numbers.

A few duck still present with 10 Gadwall, 14 Teal, 15 Wigeon and 17 Goldeneye worthy of note considering the fishing season is in full swing.

Bird of the day was a Woodcock flushed from the undergrowth near the stream running along side the sewage farm.

Other birds noted included  Water Rail, 3 Buzzard, 2 Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Wagtail, 7 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing though Bob had 300 Redwing on the north side.

Gadwall by Bob Hazel

Not surprisingly they have been thin on the ground recently – just started to record Bumble-bees but still waiting for my first butterfly of the year.

Moths have shrugged off the winter chill in next to no time and I have added Oak Beauty, Hebrew Character and Pale Pinion to my garden year list in the last two days with last nights trap producing 6 species from 11 moths.

Oak Beauty

Pale Pinion by Bob Hazel

Spring pond

Curlew, Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, Shoveler male, 5 Gadwall,12 Goldeneye and 3 Meadow Pipit was all we could manage at the pond in an hour off farborough bank first thing so missed the Dark-bellied Brent Goose and Merlin that were found later. Napton on the Hill had Lesser Redpoll and the odd flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing still in the valley.

The Edge at Fenny Compton

Fenny Compton

Class 66

GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 no 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe 

Arty pic of the carriages

Couple of shots from John Judge who was at Deppers Bridge

Comet and Thicknees

After failing to locate Comet C/22011 L4 Panstarrs last month mainly because it was too low on the horizon and inclement weather I finally managed to see it from Napton on the Hill last night as it starts its climb towards Cassiopeia. It’s not a good looking object being just about visible to the naked eye as a fuzzy blob and not as bright as predicted. On the other hand if you are looking for something awesome then Saturn and some of its moons is showing well.

On the downside it was a bloody cold night not helped by a close calling Tawny Owl that would not show itself and when dawn came a Chiffchaff was heard in the dawn chorus but little else noted apart from a distant Barn Owls around Napton Reservoir and the adjacent marinas.

A female Brambling was with the finch flock in the field next to the Bridge Nursery while the surprise of the morning was a House Martin over Napton Reservoir.

A walk along the canal to my bus stop produced Raven, Buzzard, Jay and a couple of Chiffchaff but when I got off at the pond the wind was over 20mph and making life very uncomfortable. There was a Sand Martin on the roof of the visitor center when Chris and Pete appeared offering a lift to Buckinghamshire. I did not need to be asked twice and we were soon heading south hoping to see a Stone Curlew at Gallows Bridge Farm NR five miles east of Bicester so not too far away for a twitch. Originally it had been on the farm track but was now in a ploughed field s but still good views in the scope.

one of 2 Water Rail that are still present in toft shallows. by Bob Hazel

Garden

Both Raven and Peregrine made an appearance this afternoon.

Valley and Heath

A trawl of the Grandborough Valley produced 5 Tree Sparrow and 3 Red-legged Partridge along Hill Rd, 3 Buzzard, 200+ Common Gull Woodbine Farm and the Baseley Small Holding had 200 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing and 20+ Tree Sparrow, plus 4 Roe Deer in the area.

The pond wasn't allowing cars in so we checked on Lawford Heath and the two flooded fields the farmer has been unable to get on this winter along Coal Pit Lane had 40 Tree Sparrow and 2 Brambling. Little else of note on the heath apart from a flock of Lapwing and 2 Red-legged Partridge.