A Long but Local Day

I decided to visit Napton on the Hill this morning to see if any interesting migrants had dropped in. The morning was clear when I left home at 0600 but deteriorated the nearer I got to Napton - firstly mist then thicker mist and on the hill FOG. Fantastic, the day had started well! I had to make the most of it as the opportunity to get out birding is diminishing rapidly. All was not lost, though and the birdsong was profound. Numerous Willow Warbler's, Chiffchaff's and Blackcap's brightened the morning with Sparrowhawk over and two Mistle Thrushes.
Leaving Napton at 0815 I headed for Draycote and the mist/fog was lifting.

Not a nice beast to "bump" into in the fog!

Arriving at Draycote at 0830, the sun was now breaking through making for a pleasant stroll to Toft and back. My first House Martin's of the year were investigating the nest sites near the visitor centre. One of the two Great Northern Divers was off Farborough Bank, the second off Draycote Bank. Several Swallow's skimmed the water and at least four Little Gulls were soon scoped off the Inlet. An Arctic Tern was located on one of the bouys with a second patrolling the

the shoreline. A Redshank was on the rocks below Farborough Spit but took to flight when two women were noisily discussing last nights TV in a voice that could clearly be heard a mile away. At least six Yellow Wagtail's were below Farborough Bank despite the grass cutting. At 1045, three Curlew flew over Farborough Bank but did not land.

Great Northern Diver

Great Crested Grebe

Great Northern Diver

Great Crested Grebe

As the weather had improved, I decided to head back to Napton on the Hill to see if any migrants could be pursuaded to show. They did not and the only different birds were three soaring Buzzards. However, decided to take a few "cuties"

As I was nearby, and had not visited for over a year, I popped into Napton Reservoir on my way home. Three Cettis Warbler's were singing away but nothing else special.

A quick drink and a bite to eat at home, then it was over to Brandon Marsh at 1500. I started off in Horsetail Glade looking in vain for the reported Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers but was pleased to see Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Then it was off to East Marsh to see if the Avocet was still present. It was not, and those in the hide reported it to leave "very high". However, half an hour later, it was heard overhead and flew in but landed distant on willow island. I managed to get a few poor quality record shots. East Marsh also held three Oystercatcher, four Little Ringed Plover and a Ringed Plover, many Snipe, and Sand Martin's showing interest in the artificial bank.

Avocet

Avocet

Avocet

Todays Sightings:

NAPTON ON THE HILL0630/0815 Blackbird; Dunnock; Wren; Greenfinch; Wood Pigeon; Magpie; Great Tit; Song Thrush; Chaffinch; Jacdaw; Robin; Green Woodpecker; Carrion Crow; Pheasant; Chiffchaff; Blue Tit; Willow Warbler; Starling; Lapwing; Moorhen; Bullfinch; Blackcap; Sparrowhawk; Skylark; Mistle Thrush.

DRAYCOTE 0830/1100 Rook; Wood Pigeon; Willow Warbler; Blackcap; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Carrion Crow; Blue Tit; Wren; Blackbird; Cormorant; House Martin; Coot; Black Headed Gull; Tufted Duck; Great Northern Diver; Mallard; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Swallow; Great Crested Grebe; Canada Goose; Magpie; Little Gull; Chiffchaff; Grey Lag Goose; Meadow Pipit; Common Gull; Teal; Shoveler; LBB Gull; Arctic Tern; Wigeon; Song Thrush; Jackdaw; Goldeneye; Moorhen; Redshank; Robin; Long Tailed Tit; Kestrel; Yellow Wagtail; Linnet; Curlew.

NAPTON ON THE HILL 1105/1230 Wood Pigeon; Blackbird; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Wren; Blackcap; Chiffchaff; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Robin; Carrion Crow; Jackdaw; Willow Warbler; Song Thrush; Buzzard; Skylark; Moorhen; Lapwing; Coot; Mallard; Green Woodpecker; Pheasant; Stock Dove; Mistle Thrush; Dunnock; Magpie; Great Spotted Woodpecker.

NAPTON RESERVOIR 1230/1330 Coot; Moorhen; Skylark; Wood Pigeon; Mute Swan; Tufted Duck; Great Crested Grebe; Dabchick; Blackcap; Cettis Warbler; Carrion Crow; Mallard; Swallow; Rook; Chiffchaff; Canada Goose; Reed Bunting; Great Tit; Jackdaw; Blackbird; Blue Tit; Green Woodpecker; Chaffinch; Wren; Goldfinch; Black Headed Gull; Robin; Magpie.

BRANDON MARSH 1500/1715 Swallow; Wood Pigeon; Carrion Crow; Chaffinch; Blackbird; Moorhen; Buzzard; Robin; Willow Warbler; Blue Tit; Nuthatch; Dunnock; Great Tit; Treecreeper; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Mallard; Chiffchaff; Coot; Canada Goose; Cettis Warbler; Wren; Jay; Shoveler; Gadwall; Tufted Duck; Lapwing; LBB Gull; Grey Lag Goose; Sand Martin; Great Crested Grebe; Snipe; Teal; Little Ringed Plover; Ringed Plover; Grey Heron; Oystercatcher; Avocet; Pheasant; Pied Wagtail; Cormorant; Reed Bunting; Blackcap; Green Woodpecker; Mute Swan; Water Rail; Bullfinch.