Napton Reservoir :: 02 April 2013

Following lunch at The Moon and Sixpence, Hanwell we opted for a walk around Napton Reservoir. The sun was out and the car suggested a balmy 9° C outside. We had seen sparrowhawk in the garden at breakfast time, buzzard over the car and kestrels on wires and hovering above the road verge on the way there. Unfortunately no raptors at the reservoir.

Boots on and it felt much milder than it has been of late. As we rounded the corner we felt the wind strength rise and the real-feel temperature drop. The main sight was of great crested grebes displaying - we were lucky enough to see both head shaking and the weed ceremony where the grebes can be seen virtually dancing on the water. That time of the year - Eilidh caught some of the action. Too cold to stay long though.

Today's sightings (21) included: carrion crow, goldfinch, blackbird, coot, mute swan, great crested grebe, moorhen, tufted duck, canada goose, mallard, woodpigeon, chaffinch, house sparrow, magpie, blue tit, great tit, robin, fieldfare, pied wagtail, common gull and black-headed gull.