Summer Leys (Northants)

Drake Wigeon

Recently, up to five Great Egrets have been reported at Summer Leys reserve, so I thought this would be a "given!" It would also provide a good walk for Symphony and get Heather a good number of year ticks. The weather looked spring like but a biting wind soon penetrated our layers of clothing sending us to shelter! Of course, not a single Great Egret showed!

"I've told you ducks before, I'm NOT going to race you!

Oystercatchers

Wigeon

Gadwall

Greenfinch (with a lot to say!)

Chaffinch

Reed Bunting

Robin

Wren

Todays Sightings:

Dabchick; Great Crested Grebe; Cormorant; Little Egret; Grey Heron; Mute Swan; Canada Goose; Shelduck; Wigeon; Gadwall; Teal; Mallard; Pochard; Tufted Duck; Goldeneye; Buzzard; Kestrel; Pheasant; Moorhen; Coot; Oystercatcher; Lapwing; Black Headed Gull; LBB Gull; Wood Pigeon; Green Woodpecker; Wren; Robin; Dunnock; Blackbird; Hippopotamus; Fieldfare; Redwing; Song Thrush; Marsh Tit; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Magpie; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Rook; Starling; Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Bullfinch; Reed Bunting.

Rainham Marshes - 22nd February 2015

Male Stonechat

Pastures new again with a trip to Rainham Marshes in the good company of the Coventry and Warwickshire RSPB group. The weather, although seasonally fresh, with a challenging wind, was better than forecast, with sunshine before the rain arrived at 1430hrs. It was good to explore a new (for me) area with several year ticks. Nothing extra special was seen, although one member (Katie) managed to photograph the elusive Water Vole! Photographic opportunities for me concentrated on some of the commoner species. A list of my sightings can be seen at the end of this post.

Stonechat (Mr & Mrs!)

The Marsh

Females Blackcap

Great Tit

Reed Bunting (Mr & Mrs)

Blue Tit

Dunnock

Robin

Lapwing

Drake Wigeon

Ratty (but the wrong type!)

Todays Sightings:

Dabchick; Cormorant; Little Egret; Grey Heron; Mute Swan; Canada Goose; Shelduck; Wigeon; Gadwall; Teal; Mallard; Pintail; Shoveler; Tufted Duck; Buzzard; Kestrel; Peregrine; Pheasant; Moorhen; Coot; Ringed Plover; Golden Plover; Lapwing; Dunlin; Black Tailed Godwit; Curlew; Redshank; Black Headed Gull; Herring Gull; LBB Gull; Stock Dove; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Skylark; Meadow Pipit; Pied Wagtail; Grey Wagtail; Wren; Dunnock; Robin; Stonechat; Blackbird; Cettis Warbler; Blackcap (f); Blue Tit; Great Tit; Magpie; Jackdaw; Rook; Carrion Crow; Starling; House Sparrow; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Reed Bunting.

South Warwickshire Farmland Birds

Corn Bunting

After the recent dull, dark and wet weather, it was a real pleasure to have a glorious sunny, blue sky day, and what a better way to enjoy it, than in the company of farmland birds? I had four birds that I wanted to touch base (year ticks) with today, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Skylark and Little Owl. All except the Little Owl were achieved. Full list at end of post.

Yellowhammer

Corn Bunting

Dunnock

Reed Bunting

Goldfinch

Mixed Bag!

Today's Sightings:

Corn Bunting; Yellowhammer; Skylark; Pheasant; Kestrel; Buzzard; Lapwing; Black Headed Gull; LBB Gull; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Green Woodpecker; Meadow Pipit; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Robin; Wren; Song Thrush; Redwing; Fieldfare; Blackbird; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Treecreeper; Magpie; Jackdaw; Rook; Carrion Crow; Starling; House Sparrow; Chaffinch; Linnet; Goldfinch; Bullfinch; Reed Bunting.