Grimsbury Reservoir :: 21 February 2015

Started following @grimsbury_birds (Gareth Blockley) on Twitter. On his updates I noted that there were some long staying goosander on Banbury Reservoir. As they hadn't been added to my year list I thought I should pop along to have a look. Very quiet on the wall to the far end of the reservoir to catch up with the goosander group but soon was rewarded with a few other species, including a flypast from a kingfisher heading along the river towards Spiceball Park. Made it back before the rain came.

Today's sighting around the reservoir (21) included: carrion crow, blackbird, blue tit, great tit, dunnock, black headed gull, pied wagtail, raven, kingfisher, buzzard, cormorant, great crested grebe, wren, mallard, magpie, woodpigeon, rook, kestrel, robin, goldfinch and lesser black backed gull.

Brandon Marsh :: 20 February 2015

Overcast, cold but an enjoyable visit to the reserve. Just the usual suspects on a tour around - perhaps spoilt by the views of water rail and kingfisher last time. X-rated from the final hide with a pair of kestrels "getting it on" in the far distance. Tea cakes in the Badger tearoom brought an end to a pleasurable visit. Couldn't resist another seed feeder from the shop on the way out.

Sighting on the reserve (38) included: carrion crow, magpie, blue tit, nuthatch, great tit, dunnock, robin, feral pigeon, chaffinch, coal tit, song thrush, blackbird, buzzard, wren, mute swan, canada goose, black headed gull, cormorant, coot, tufted duck, gadwall, shoveler, pochard, mallard, lapwing, moorhen, lesser black backed gull, shelduck, teal, wood pigeon, common gull, goldeneye, great crested grebe, rook, kestrel, jay, bullfinch and greenfinch.