28th Jan 2018: Round up

Sorry for not posting for a while, this is a bit of a catch up and generally the most notable birds.

The Stonechat that has been at the reservoir is still there and fairly faithful to a particular part of the fence and gets seen on most days. A drake Goosander has been visiting fairly regularly but it definitely doesn't stay around for long. There has also been a good flock of Greenfinch around of 20 or more birds that is very good for here, especially considering how much they have declined recently.

The biggest highlight is a Greylag Goose John saw on Friday 19th, which was  new for the year.

The drake Goosander was seen on Sunday 21st (Allan Jones) and Thursday 25th (John). Yesterday morning I was pleasantly surprised there were actually four Goosanders (3 drakes) on the reservoir. However, three flew off north fairly soon after I got there. Maybe off to Boddington? I also heard a Redpoll in the woodland, but the flock it was with flew off before I could have a look at it/them.

This morning Steve had a drake Goosander on the reservoir and a pair of Stonechats up the valley near the Borrow Pit pool.

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

17th Jan 2018: Ravens and Peregrine

Some news from John and a couple of new birds for the year list. Yesterday he had six Ravens wheeling around in the wind, which are likely to be the same ones I've seen over town in recent days. Today, he had a large Peregrine (assumed to be female) drift low over at lunch time. There was also a Great Crested Grebe downing a rather decent sized Perch!

All photos courtesy and copyright of JFT

14th Jan 2018: Pochard

Steve and Colin were out this morning. A drake Pochard was with a pair of Tufted Ducks on the reservoir, before they moved to the Borrow Pit pool. One drake Goosander flew in (and was still present later when John called in), four Lapwing circled over and there was a smart adult Yellow-legged Gull.

13th Jan 2018: Woodcock and Willow Tit

John and I were out this morning. John was out before me and had 10 Lapwing fly over the reservoir. Whilst he was in the woodland searching through the tit flock a Woodcock flew in to the woodland. Further confirming my theory that he has some kind of magical ability to find birds, especially when I'm not there!

A bit later we found the Willow Tit in the wood, near the junction of the path by the railway and the path by the ditch. It actually sat preening and showed well for several minutes and called several times before flying further into the wood. Otherwise, it was pretty quiet with just a couple of Skylarks going over the only other bits of note.

11th Jan 2018: Shoveler

I was up at the reservoir early today and joined a little later by John. I managed to pick out a 2CY Yellow-legged Gull in the gloom before it and most of the other gulls departed for the day. A drake Shoveler was new for the year list and there was also a pair of Tufted Ducks.

In the woodland there was at least three Siskins, which flew south, and behind the woodland there was a small flock of Linnets. The Song Thrushes have been singing since the start of the year, which is fairly normal, but I was a little surprised to hear a Treecreeper singing today. On my way back I managed to see the Stonechat thanks to John pointing out where it was (at last!).

It's worth noting that so far we have already seen over half the number of species recorded last year. I wonder if we can beat 2016's species count of 128? Happy bird spotting everyone!

Courtesy and copyright of JFt

10th Jan 2018: Goosanders

Yesterday, John had the Stonechat again on the fence along the footpath on the western side of the reservoir.

Today, Graeme Porter found a pair of Goosanders at the reservoir mid-morning that were still present when John visited at lunch time. These were the first ones of this year and I hope we see more, similar to previous winters.

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

7th Jan 2018: Jay and Jack Snipe Plus more

A very nice sunny day today but it was very cold and windy, further increasing the chill factor. Colin was out this morning and Ian this afternoon. Also, as part of the B.O.S. Short Day Count in SP44, John, Clive and I were at the reservoir this afternoon. Several birds were added to the year list including a few good ones.

Colin had a Jay in the woodland, a pair of Stonechats in the Primark/M and S meadow, a Lesser Redpoll in trees near the Borrow Pit and two drake Tufted Ducks on the reservoir. Also Fieldfares, Redwings, a Sparrowhawk, Green and Great spotted Woodpeckers, Treecreeper our “familiar” female Kestrel and the Coot on the reservoir (and 3 more on the Borrow Pit pool).

Again, we failed to find the Willow Tit and Chiffchaff in the woodland but Ian confirmed a Stonechat still present in the cattle fields (so I'm not sure if there are a few around currently). We managed to find a Snipe and a bonus Jack Snipe in the 'usual' field. There was also at least four, possibly five, Little Grebes on the Borrow Pit. the gull roost was a little underwhelming but there was a single Yellow-legged Gull present.

6th Jan 2018: Brambling and Stonechat

John and Mark were out today adding some good birds to the year list and one oddity that, although interesting, does not count towards the patch or year list.

This morning John did what he does best and found a really good bird for the patch. At least one Brambling heard calling to the east of the river and flying off with a group of four finches and he also had four Wigeon flyover north. Brambling is a surprisingly rare patch bird and there hasn't been one for several years. I think the last one was a flyover I recorded in January 2011.

This afternoon Mark added Stonechat to the year list, with one along the fence on the western side of the reservoir. We are not sure if this is the same bird that has been around for several weeks, and is very elusive, or if we have been visited by several different birds. Late evening Mark found a Black Swan on the reservoir, which is likely to be the same bird recorded at Port Meadow recently. I am not sure, but I expect this is a new species recorded here, but as it is obviously an escaped bird it doesn't go on the list!

5th Jan 2018: Red Kite and more year ticks

I managed to have a look around the patch this morning, concentrating on the woodland. I failed to find the Willow Tit or the Chiffchaff, but I did manage to add a few other bits to the year list. A Red Kite was drifting around over to the west of the reservoir, a Meadow Pipit flew over south, a Reed Bunting flew over near the river and a female Sparrowhawk was hanging around the car park when I left.

Steve also had two Collared Doves. So the year list is ticking along nicely now.

3rd Jan 2018: Wigeon

John spotted two Wigeon on the reservoir at lunchtime today. Not a lot else around though.

1st Jan 2018: New year, new birds

John and I made our first visit to the patch this afternoon. Mostly it was just the usual birds you can expect day to day but there were a few minor highlights.

As soon as I got out of the car a few Siskin flew over, which was pleasing as there hasn't been many around for a couple of weeks. The Coot was still on the reservoir and a couple of Herring Gulls were loafing on the pontoon. I searched through the roving passerine flock in the wood but failed to find the Willow Tit or Chiffchaff.

John joined me for the gull roost and even by Grimsbury standards it was pretty small. So we were surprised when a 2CY Great Black-backed dropped in, possibly the same bird as last week. On top of that a 3CY Yellow-legged Gull came in, another (adult) Great Black-back flew through and three more Herring Gulls flew through. This was all only amongst c.40 Black-headed and a handful of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.