We stayed on the one side of the "pond" looking along the fringes and had a relaxing time seeing an arctic tern and the first greenshank of the winter. Our species count totalled 26 this time, including: house martin, raven, rook, mute swan, coot, black-headed gull, mallard, pied wagtail, little grebe, carrion crow, woodpigeon, yellow wagtail, ringed plover, dunlin, tufted duck, great-crested grebe, canada goose, long tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, chiffchaff, dunnock, meadow pipit, arctic tern, greenshank and moorhen.
We also happened upon a "Clouded Yellow" butterfly - not sure I've ever seen one of those before. Weird eyes!
Sunday 25 September 2011
Draycote Water :: 24 September 2011
Farmoor Reservoir :: 18 September 2011
Our species list for the day totalled 30, including: pied wagtail, white wagtail, mallard, coot, cormorant, great-crested grebe, black-headed gull, grey wagtail, yellow wagtail, linnet, yellow legged gull, house sparrow, robin, blue tit, great tit, starling, goldfinch, tufted duck, woodpigeon, common sandpiper, magpie, greenfinch, blackbird, greylag goose, mute swan, carrion crow, egyptian goose, shag, ringed plover and lapland bunting.
The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the spectacular views of the Lapland Bunting. Although diminutive, the colours and stripes make this the bird equivalent of a tiger!
The tennis turned out well too with a 4-0 win for Banbury Mixed A, celebrated with drinks from Starbucks on the Peartree roundabout.
Sunday 4 September 2011
West Kilbride/Seamill/Portencross :: 15-30 August 2011
Our species count (46) for the visit included: swallow, goldfinch, housemartin, jackdaw, rook, blackbird, herring gull, lesser black backed gull, eider duck, black headed gull, oystercatcher, great black backed gull, yellow wagtail, curlew, sandwich tern, house sparrow, mute swan, rock dove, feral pigeon, starling, cormorant, grey heron, carrion crow, collared dove, wood pigeon, willow warbler, common gull, greenfinch, grey wagtail, pied wagtail, white wagtail, robin, linnet, gannet, turnstone, ringed plover, redshank, stonechat, mallard, sand martin, buzzard, dipper, peregrine falcon, wren, wigeon and black guillemot.
Brandon Marshes :: 07 August 2011
The total species count totaled 34 including: woodpigeon, feral pigeon, great tit, great-spotted woodpecker, blue tit, greenfinch, chaffinch, robin, magpie, carrion crow, collared dove, swallow, moorhen, mute swan, canada goose, mallard, common tern, lapwing, coot, cormorant, lesser black-backed gull, house martin, sand martin, grey heron, starling, common sandpiper, whitethroat, buzzard, stock dove, green sandpiper, sparrowhawk, linnet, pheasant and green woodpecker.
Our favourite was again a whitethroat, this one hiding in the brambles.