SUNDAY. Jon Lloyd

Great day, bright, warm but very windy. Plenty to see today. Large flocks of Fieldfares and Starlings on the eastern fields and a big flock of Woodpigeons in the distance. I found a party of 10 Longtailed Tits in a small copse out here with Great Tit and Blue.

The field hedges near the farm turned up Tree and House sparrow and a Pied Wagtail dropped onto the corrugated sheeting covering the barn and Collard Doves scavinged the garden paths as I stood talking to Tony Seagrave. The Snowdrops were out in full splendour today.

The pools were busy today. Three male and one Female Shoveler were out on the water in front

of the hide. There plenty of Teal but mostly hidden away from the brisk wind. A count of 10 Coot put the numbers now to the best since last winter. There were several Moorhen about despite the suspected predation by Hen Harrier during the week. Three Little Grebes appeared and disappeared in their usual secretive way. There were two Curlew stalking the long grass to the back of the pools. These have turned in the last week or so and are presumably the pair breeding on the fields to the east.

The hide feeders brought in the usual Chaffinch and I actually saw a Willow Tit feeding here. This is the first time I have ever seen Willow Tit at a bird feeder.

Other sights: Kestrel, Buzzard, Stock Dove, Goldfinch, Common Partridge, Black Headed Gull, Lapwing

Tony Seagrave Had also seen some Golden Plover on the ploughed fields to the left of the hide.

TUESDAY - Martin Grant - mid day

On the marsh in front of the hide I recorded a pair of Shoveler, a few Teal were in view
most were hidden, a pair of Little Grebe, 7 Coot, a Grey Heron, a pair of Canada Geese, and 25 Black-headed Gulls a pair of Stonechats were on the fence at the back of the marsh. In the field to the west of the marsh were about 50 Lapwings and a flock of 200 Linnets. A Willow Tit was also on the feeders.

WEDNESDAY -

THURSDAY - Martin Grant

I have visited at mid day there were 40 Teal, 2 pairs of Shoveler the males were displaying perhaps they will stay to breed. The Little Grebe were also displaying and trilling all the time I was in the hide. The Coot numbers are still building up today I counted at least 12 including 6 that were in a territorial dispute. A female Sparrowhawk was sitting in the bush, to the right of the blue water pipe, it took off and flew straight towards the hide going to the left of the hide at the last minute chasing the birds on the feeders. A flock of 15 Goldfinch landed on the ground in front of the hide. To the left of the marsh was the Curlew and 50 Lapwings many of them settling down to breed. Also recorded a male Reed bunting, Buzzard, Moorhen, Mallard, Stock dove. As I was leaving a flock of 50+ Fieldfares were on the telegraph wires and a Song Thrush was singing by Wallfarm cottages.

FRIDAY - Jon Lloyd

I haven,t seen much of today, more the pity. A blue sky peered in across the office desk and that was it until late afternoon. I managed to get away early and dropped down onto wall farm just before the last rays of a very warm orange sun dropped over the horizon.

A large white moon already stood high in the sky to the east and the Goldfinches poured into the roost that I recently discovered. On the road side the Mistle Thursh was still guarding the last of the holly berrries on its favourite tree.

There one or two tractors about working the surrounding fields. The Little Owls sat out on the far side of the hedge, a fence post or two apart. Most of the Fieldfares had already taken to trees in the gathering dusk. There were several smaller flocks of Starlings and Redwing amongst them. The farm house hedge was busy with its regulars and I dropped into the field beyond through the gate and down to the hide.

On approach I checked across the marsh and was delighted to discover a Barn Owl hunting. It hovered over the rush beds, dropped a couple of times, apparently with no success on its prey and then moved further away. At this point I took the opportunity to crouch low and climb up into the hide.

From here for several mintues I watched with utter enjoyment the site of the golden owl in the last rays of the golden evening hunting across the marshland in front of me. At times the bird tried its luck on the banks of the Strine and passed silently right in front of me. I hardly dared to move and couldn't stop watching long enough to fiddle with cameras and telescopes. It would have been a long shot in this light anyway. The bird eventually disappeared to the left of the hide, but what a treat. It is these moments that make birdwatching so enjoyable.

Out on the water the usual groups of Teal and Mallard went about their business. The drake Teal coasting amongst the duck and as vociferous as ever. The sounds out on the wetland have changed now, with the onset of spring. They remind me of the same period last year when three pairs of Little Grebe arrived and dashed around the pools and channels fluttering noisley across the pool surface in pursuit of love. Tonght 5 birds chased each other remorselessly to the accompanyment of deep trills and much splashing.

My early worries about Coot numbers seem to have resolved with a post Chistmas rush especially in the last few weeks with counts of 12 this week.

No sign of the Curlew tonight but the Lapwings have already begun to split ranks and surrounding fields already show pairs that are beginning to court and claim ground. There were several Reed Buntings on the marsh tonight and 4 Buzzards patrolled the distant hedge where the Rabbits seem to be doing well lately!!

Two Hares ambled by at the back of the marsh and a single heron was looking out for frogs at the pool margin.

As I left the hide and crossed back towards the road I picked up three little Owls calling from quite different directions, they must be doing better here than I thought. The grumble of a Tawny Owl finished the evening. An Owl hatrick - great.

SATURDAY.

Great morning, dawn a 6.30am and the sun rising like a orange ball to warm the frosted fields. In case you dont believe me here it is.

Goldfinches left the roost at first light. Three mute swans were driftng around the pool at Tibberton Grange. They took off when I walked the eastern fields and found thenselves flying straight at three Canadian Geese going in the opposite direction. A mometary pause, a quick decision and the three Geese dropped to the field, giving way to the larger birds but not without a fair bit of vocal protest. A small male Sparrowhawk flew past, high at first but then dropping toa foot above field and then to rest on a field edge fence post where it sat for some time watching.

Lots or Redwings this morning in the hawthorn paddock together with Yellowhammers, Blue Tits, Great Tits and Yellowhammers. It was in a Hawthorn here that I spotted my first migrant this year. A Chiffchaff flitted around in the lower branches and later gave song, all be it a rather pathetic chiff chaff of only a few bars.

Male Reed Buntings are calling in quite a few places on the farm now. They have been very vocal the last few weeks which makes it much easier to find them. I found three separate pairs of Long Tailed Tit this morning and in all in the rough locations of last years nests so they are obviously beginning to consider that Spring is here.

The Little Owl was on the same post where I left at dusk yesterday but no sign of the Barn Owl this morning. Five Tree Sparrows sat in the hedge with gang of Greenfinches. Lots of Redwings here by the farm and few Fieldfares but its usually the other way round, perhaps there has been some movement during the night.

By the time I reached the wetland, the sky had closed in and visibiltiy was considerably down. The promising red sun had disappeared behind a grey mass and the temperature dropped noticeably. There was a large flock of Black headed Gulls on the pools and a single Curlew flew threw them on my approach. A couple of Gulls dived in but the Curlew gave as good as it got and turned towards them to retaliate. Out on the water the usual Teal, Mallard, Coot, a few Shoveler and Moorhen. The Little Grebes were a little more secretive this morning and I couldn't a get a fix on numbers. A small flock of Lapwings flew over the pools and the very light Buzzard sat on the fence post at the back of the pools watching events. The wooded lane produced two very accomodating Treecreepers. They were noisey, stuck close together, I am sure they had paired and were beginning courtship. This this best spot on the farm to find them and they were in this area during the breeding season last year but I couldn't find a nest anywhere. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed in the distance.

Goldfinches left the roost a first light