Brandon Marsh

I arrived at Brandon later than planned courtesy of the great British public, one of whom chose to delay my finish time last night, meaning I did not get to bed until 0130! I still managed to be on site at 0715, rather bleary eyed, though!

It was a mild and sunny start but the cloud increased and the light deteriorated. It was good to increase my year list with Grasshopper Warbler (3) on Newlands and numerous Reed Warblers. The path past the wind pump produced a good chorus and good sightings of Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Cettis Warbler. Newlands also held most of these plus Sedge Warbler.East Marsh Pool held many Snipe, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank and Common Tern. Teal Pool still held the five Black Tailed Godwits which moved between here and River Pool. A full list of sightings are listed at the end of this post.

Little Ringed Plover

Black Tailed Godwit


Little Ringed Plover


Little Ringed Plover

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

Mallard

Mallard

(More Images on my Website - see link opposite)

Todays Sightings:

Swallow; Grey Lag Goose; Chaffinch; Wood Pigeon; Carrion Crow; Jackdaw; Blackbird; Robin; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Dunnock; Willow Warbler; Blackcap; Cuckoo; Mallard; Lapwing; Coot; Whitethroat; Cettis Warbler; Jay; Song Thrush; Chiffchaff; Canada Goose; Wren; Lesser Whitethroat; Reed Warbler; Sedge Warbler; Grey Heron; Grasshopper Warbler; Mute Swan; Great Crested Grebe; Tufted Duck; Cormorant; Snipe; Common Tern; Moorhen; Ringed Plover; Little Ringed Plover; Gadwall; Redshank; Oystercatcher; Stock Dove; Magpie; Reed Bunting; Green Woodpecker; Black Tailed Godwit; Teal; Long Tailed Tit; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Pheasant; LBB Gull; Dabchick; Buzzard; Swift; House Martin; Sand Martin; Goldcrest; Bullfinch.

Great Tits at Work

The title says it all really and yes we do have many pairs of Great Tits in my workplace! Unfortunately, many would not be publishable! Arrived at work early and spent a little time taking pics of this busy pair.

Draycote Water

I arrived at Draycote before the gate opened, which is later than it used to be, at 0800 (what happened to the 0700 opening?). I met up with Bob H on Farborough Bank, walking the perimeter, but finding it rather quiet after the weekends "finds". Farborough Bank held Wheatear and Sedge Warbler and distant views of the Great Northern Diver's. No sign of the Blue Headed Wagtail and only four Yellow Wagtails. Two Common Terns were seen around the water and a number of Swifts arrived and as quickly, disappeared!

Images of Willow Warbler near the Inlet:

Images of Wheatear on Farborough Bank:

Todays Sightings 0800 - 1400:

Rook; Song Thrush; Mallard; Chaffinch; Willow Warbler; Grey Heron; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Dunnock; Blue Tit; Blackbird; Wood Pigeon; Wren; LBB Gull; Blackcap; Chiffchaff; Pied Wagtail; Robin; Goldfinch; Tufted Duck; Great Crested Grebe; House Martin; Coot; Cormorant; Grey Lag Goose; Sedge Warbler; Mute Swan; Black Headed Gull; Wheatear; Common Tern; Reed Bunting; Gadwall; Great Northern Diver; Magpie; Yellow Wagtail; Green Woodpecker; Canada Goose; Starling; Great Tit; Moorhen; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Swallow; Buzzard; Swift; Kestrel; Long Tailed Tit; Pheasant; Skylark.

Napton on the Hill

An early morning visit, arriving at 0515. Nice to here the bird song but little change in species since previous visits. A pair of Mistle Thrushes were around the church and a Sparrowhawk flew overhead. The bushes within the quarry held Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat. A Cuckoo called and flew over the distant farmland while a noisy Jay seemed to take exception to my presence - can't blame it really!. New bird in was a solitary Wheatear on the quarry rocks. A Muntjac strolling down the hill was also nice to see.

Todays Sightings 0515 - 0700:

Blackbird; Wren; Wood Pigeon; Chiffchaff; Robin; Great Tit; Mistle Thrush; Song Thrush; Green Woodpecker; Carrion Crow; Pheasant; Cuckoo; Willow Warbler; Blackcap; Blue Tit; Magpie; Whitethroat; Lapwing; Canada Goose; Wheatear; Moorhen; Mallard; Jackdaw; Stock Dove; Coot; Starling; Linnet; Jay; Skylark; Dunnock; Greenfinch; Chaffinch; Sparrowhawk; Collared Dove; Rook; Swallow; Muntjac Deer.

My next stop was to be Draycote Water. En-route, it was good to see Raven, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, Red Legged Partridge and Brown Hare.

Draycote Water

Following my morning start at Napton, I decided to call in at Draycote for a walk to Toft and back. As I entered the car park at 1000, I received a text regarding a Blue Headed Wagtail off Farborough Bank so made this my priority. The Blue Headed Wagtail was soon located in the field of cows immediately below Farborough Bank along with at least ten Yellow Wagtail's, but remained too distant for any images. Along the shoreline, five Common Sandpiper's were observed but failed to settle. Above, Swallow's, Sand Martin's, House Martin's and my first for the year Swift's (7) were a pleasure to observe, and two Buzzard's soared. With few photographic opportunities, my attention was turned to the Great Crested Grebes, two of which kindly displayed.

Four of five Common Sandpiper's

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Todays Sightings 1000 - 1245:

Coot; Mallard; Tufted Duck; Wood Pigeon; Pied Wagtail; Willow Warbler; Black Headed Gull; Great Crested Grebe; Chaffinch; Blackcap; Rook; Carrion Crow; Jackdaw; Dunnock; Robin; Starling; Yellow Wagtail; Blue Headed Wagtail; Common Gull; Common Sandpiper; Cormorant; Swift; House Martin; Mute Swan; Sand Martin; Canada Goose; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Chiffchaff; Gadwall; Teal; Goldfinch; Wren; Magpie; Buzzard; Grey Heron.

Napton on the Hill (Again!)

Still on the search for interesting migrants, I headed back out to Napton on the Hill this morning, arriving at 0745. It was sunny but very cool with a strong breeze. A frost was evident in the more sheltered quarry area. Very little to report today other than Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. A few more Willow Warbler images:

(More images on my website - see link opposite)

Todays Sightings 0745 - 0945:

Chaffinch; Wood Pigeon; Wren; Magpie; Blackbird; Chiffchaff; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Rook; Dunnock; Robin; Starling; Great Tit; Willow Warbler; Greenfinch; Song Thrush; Stock Dove; Moorhen; Coot; Mallard; Blue Tit; Blackcap; Kestrel; Buzzard; Lapwing; Green Woodpecker; Linnet; Pheasant; Skylark; LBB Gull; Long Tailed Tit; Swallow; House Sparrow; Mistle Thrush; Black Headed Gull.

Napton on the Hill & Napton Reservoir

A late start today due to needing a few hours sleep following nights saw me arrive at Napton on the Hill at 1015. Parking by the church, I walked past the windmill and down into the quarry. Bird song was superb with many warblers present. Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff were busily competing and it was good to see my first Whitethroat of the year. The brief call of a Lesser Whitethroat drew my attention to the bird which was soon lost into the bushes. A Cuckoo was calling from the distant farmland, but alas, not seen. My attention was then drawn to three flyover Raven's heading towards Shuckburgh and four Buzzard's soared overhead. A call from the woodland sounded very out of place for the time of day, it was the call of a male Tawny Owl, but sadly not seen. Other interesting observations were Mistle Thrush and Sparrowhawk and the field above the quarry held five Fieldfare. A complete list of sightings is at end of post.

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Leaving the Hill at 1230, I headed for Napton Reservoir, which was rather quiet. A solitary Sedge Warbler sang out from the reeds for about ten minutes and two Cettis Warblers competed. I spent a while taking photo's of two very obliging Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swan before meeting and chatting with John J on the embankment.

(More Images on my website - see link opposite)

Todays Sightings:

NAPTON ON THE HILL 1015 - 1230. Robin; Wood Pigeon; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Great Tit; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Wren; Chiffchaff; Blackcap; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Blue Tit; Blackbird; Magpie; Pheasant; Willow Warbler; Moorhen; Coot; Linnet; Song Thrush; Whitethroat; Starling; LBB Gull; Lapwing; Cuckoo; Dunnock; Mallard; Lesser Whitethroat; Green Woodpecker; Bullfinch; Fieldfare; Cormorant; Skylark; Raven; Tawny Owl; Jay; Buzzard; Stock Dove; Mistle Thrush; Sparrowhawk; Swallow.

NAPTON RESERVOIR 1240 - 1430. Rook; Moorhen; Dunnock; Carrion Crow; Coot; Great Crested Grebe; Mallard; Mute Swan; Chiffchaff; Dabchick; Tufted Duck; Cormorant; Wren; Magpie; Jackdaw; Skylark; Chaffinch; Blackbird; Canada Goose: Cettis Warbler; Raven; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Reed Bunting; Kestrel; Sedge Warbler; Willow Warbler; Pheasant; Black Headed Gull; Goldfinch; Sand Martin.