22nd Mar 2018: Little Ringed Plover

John: Well a bit of a shock coming back to the snow having been with Gareth, birding in Morocco! However, at least the last couple of days haven't been quite so bracing.

So to the birds...well this week has seen a little bit of interest. The undoubted highlight to date, has been our first Little Ringed Plover of the season, a lovely male on a freezing cold Monday evening (19/03). Grimsbury seems to have a knack of producing Oxfordshire's first LRP of the year and I may be wrong but I think we've gained that accolade once again!

This morning (22/03) was very pleasant and sunny, bringing about a lot of bird activity. A pair of Sparrowhawks were displaying overhead, a couple of male Bullfinches were singing well from perches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the wood. So some positive signs of spring!

Other birds of note included both Marsh & Willow Tit (having a right old squabble at one point!) & c20 Siskins in the wood plus a / the pair of Wigeon on the reservoir which I've been seeing daily since Tuesday. Willow, Marsh & Coal Tit from this morning below.