SUNDAY.Jon Lloyd & Mark Tarry

I made an early start today. cold morning but warming up. The forecast promised rain this afternoon and they might actually be right for a change.On the way down to the farm I found a male Merlin sat on a telegraph wire near to the pole. It was fine looking bird, small and clearly grey backed. It dropped off the wire, low and dashed in the direction of some thrushes feeding in the open field. It suddenly changed direction lifted over a hedge and down and disappeared from view.

I stopped at the bridge and looked across the flat lands to the east. Here amongst the trees a small group of Tits were busy and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in typical undulating flight overhead.

I met up with Mark just in time for him to miss a Green Sandpiper....revenge from last week! There were a few Mallard waddling about in the field at the bottom end of the farm presumably disgruntled about the general state of the open water(ice) locally! Several Buzzards were in this area one took exception with a pair of Ravens and chased them. Its usually the other way round.

A Sparrowhawk chased low across the field towards a group of hawthorns on the old wall.

We decided to walk the farm and over on the Eastern edge disturbed a flock of 25 Goldfinches that flitted round us and back onto some rough weedyfield margin. They were spectacular close up yellow wings bars flashing in unison as they turned in front of us and then dropped to the ground.

Mark found a small group of Lapwing on the neighbouring winter Barley field. A Male Peregrine flew towards us and then off to our right heading in the direction of Tibberton Grange. We watched it dip over the Mallard in the field and frighten them to death.

The hawthorn field on the edge of the 'wall' was busy with small birds, a Great Tit calling, a Coal Tit in the Scotts Pine at the end of this field and lots of Chaffinches and a Song Thrush feeding on the ground amongst the leaf litter. There were Fieldfares and Redwings out in the ajoining field. Mark Had walked a different way at this point behind the farm and picked up a Tree Creeper.

The farm was busy, the pool in the garden and to the right were congested with Collard Doves, Greenfinches, Blackbirds, Robins whilst the House Sparrows called from the hedge and a Tree Sparrow called from further away.The Little Owl was on the same post as it was yesterday.

At the hide the pools were still frozen. No ducks today. The Herons were about and large flocks of Jackdaws and Rooks. There several small flocks of gulls passing through this morning, Black Headed, Lesser Black Backed and a Herring Gull (Actually my first for Wall Farm).

The Stonechat was more or less in the spot we had left it yesterday by the pump house.

Also seen: Sisken, Mistle Thrush, Skylark.

Tony Butler and Pete Jordan (2.20pm)

Female Hen Harrier.

TUESDAY - Pete Jordan

50 Teal, Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Reed Bunting and female Hen Harrier which was observed catching a small rodent.

WEDNESDAY - Martin Grant

Male Wigeon, Jay, female Hen Harrier, Lapwing 30, 250 teal, female Stonechat. A fox was observed sitting under the hedge int he far left corner of the wetland closely watched by two cock Pheasants and 2 Magpies

THURSDAY - DH

Hen Harrier female, Lapwing, Sparrowhawk, Teal and Mallard. and Coot.

Note: if that is a Coot Record it would be very unusual. Would be very interested to hear from DH! that this is a confirmed siting.

Pete Jordan

Reed Bunting, Teal, Male Wigeon, female Hen Harrier, Lapwing 37.

SATURDAY. S France

Cormorant, 20 Canadian Geese flew over, 1 Pintail and Female Hen Harrier.

Jon Lloyd

This afternnon was fairly cool and I arrived on the farm about 12.00pm. In the eastern side of the farm there two Buzzards, well separated, were eating rabbits out in the open field. One Buzzard became extremely agitated by the Raven that stood a little two close to wait for its chance to get at the carcass. A female Sparrowhawk zoomed past as I stopped to take some photographs and a Grey Watail flew overhead. In a dstant field a flock of Lapwings numbering some 150 plus took the air on the approach of a light aircrafft.

There were plenty of small finch flocks around including Chaffinch and Goldfinch. The Chaffinch flock was feeding amongst leaf litter at the farmhouse. The Little Owl was in its usual place. A good group of Blackbirds were feeding at the bottom of the same hedge.

House Sparrows chirrped from the roof of the barn and a couple of Collard Doves dashed past and landed at the pond edge. A good group of Greenfinches were feeding on the hide feeders as I arrived along with Great and Blue Tit. There were perhaps 150 Teal out on the pools along with about 50 Mallard and a single male Wigeon. I didn't see the Little Grebe that has been seen all week or the Hen Harrier today.

Also seen: Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Stock Dove.

Andy Latham

Female Merlin was hunting the fields towards Cherrington this pm but no sign of the Hen Harrier.A Barn Owl was hunting along the banks of the River Strine at c4.00pm