Boddington Reservoir :: 25 March 2017

Back from a week in Italy visiting the Company's HQ (the "Mother Ship"). A bit to do at home and in town to get prepared for Mother's Day so set off later in the afternoon than intended. Decided on a circuit of Boddington Reservoir, for a change, and given the available time before tea and the arrival of our evening visitors.

We came across a red-legged partridge just before reaching the car park, then saw a reed bunting while changing into walking boots and as always a friendly robin watched on. Many great-crested grebes on the water plus black-headed, lesser black-backed and common gulls. As we walked the breeze stiffened and we were glad of our jackets. A little egret beside the tower and then towards the halfway point, now out of the breeze and in the sun ... glorious.

Back down on the path to the main road where we came across blue and long-tailed tits. We saw another bird pass through without being able to identify it. Shortly it gave itself away, singing at full tilt - my first chiffchaff of the year.

On the final stretch we watched a chap land a sizeable common carp, to the delight of his young son. Very soon after a small bird flew adjacent to the main road, landing on the trunk of a tall tree. It was obviously a treecreeper and scurried up and around the tree. A minute later it was joined by another - great to see.

Sightings (27) included: black-headed gull, blackbird, blue tit, buzzard, canada goose, carrion crow, chiffchaff, common gull, coot, dunnock, great crested grebe, great tit, lesser black-backed gull, little egret, long-tailed tit, magpie, mallard, moorhen, mute swan, pheasant, red-legged partridge, reed bunting, robin, treecreeper, tufted duck, woodpigeon and wren.

WkWT Brandon Marsh :: 11 March 2017

No coffee before we went out onto the reserve on this occasion. Straight away we could hear a great spotted woodpecker drumming somewhere between the New Hare Covert track and the Visitors Centre. By the tall trees we also found a treecreeper who danced between the trees and over our heads. As the treecreeper was lost from view it was replaced by a nuthatch, although high in the canopy.

Nothing significant from Wright hide and when we got back to Goose Pool we decided to stop for a coffee back at the Centre. As we reached the south end on Grebe Pool we were lucky enough to spot a redpoll feeding. A successful morning even if we'd stopped there.

Back out and a march down to East Marsh hide. Snipe visible from there and after a few minutes a total of five counted. Nothing from Carlton but on then to the final hide. Two buzzard resting in the distant trees were joined by a pair of great spotted woodpecker. Grey heron entertains a hoard of visitors being guided round.

On our return we came across a mother and son watching another redpoll but unfortunately I got too close before realising what was going on and was too close for a photo fearless redpoll! Stepping backwards to make space the bird flew off.

More redpoll in trees as we approached the Visitors Centre, then homeward bound.

Sightings (36) included: black-headed gull, blackbird, blue tit, buzzard, canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, common gull, coot, cormorant, dunnock, great crested grebe, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, greenfinch, grey heron, greylag goose, herring gull, lapwing, lesser black-backed gull, lesser redpoll, magpie, mallard, moorhen, nuthatch, oystercatcher, pochard, reed bunting, robin, shoveler, snipe, teal, treecreeper, tufted duck, woodpigeon and wren.

At home, Banbury :: 10 March 2017

A bit of a surprise in the garden today when two red-legged partridge decided to visit at breakfast time. Damned lucky I took the time to glance around - bit of a rush to get the girls to school and difficult to get a photo at an angle through the kitchen window. Fortunately I picked them out underneath, and mostly behind, the kerria along the back wall. I wonder what else might visit if I lived in the countryside. A nice addition to this year's and the garden lists.

A nice coincidence as I thought I saw a pair when driving to Bridgnorth, Shropshire yesterday but was unable to stop due to the line of traffic I was in.

Wildlife Trust Summer Leys :: 04 March 2017

After a busy couple of weeks, this was a welcome stroll around @wildlifebcn Summer Leys with her indoors. An early breakfast and off, travelling through sunshine but arriving slightly overcast - it didn't take long for the weather to catch us up.

As usual the first stop was the Pioneer hide. Good numbers of gadwall, lapwing and black-headed gulls. Three little egrets were sitting low in branches to the far left from the hide, heads out of view - a most unusual sight. A pair of male pochard we in front of them with one soon taking flight.

Out onto the reserve for a circuit and as soon as we cleared the hide we saw two green woodpeckers working their was along the trees - also lots of birds in small flocks as we went, joined by a solitary redwing.

From the feeder hide we saw lot of the usual garden birds, joined by quite a few reed bunting. However, if you want to get Charlotte excited about the birds she sees it can only be bullfinch and jays - the three bullfinches duly obliged.

Met a chap going the other way who gave details of where the red crested pochard could be found. Sure enough the short diversion yielded another tick for the year list (now #85), although views were distant and only allowed for a record shot.

From the next open hide good numbers of teal were foraging with yet more gadwall behind. Perhaps the most gadwall I've seen on one visit. Soon after we saw a grey heron low in flight and watched as he strolled into the water for a spot of fishing.

No sign of the great white egret that had been on-site recently; I suppose just another Saturday morning dip ... all too frequently birds seem to move as the weekend arrives.

Our 2 mile circuit complete I checked that there was nothing new from the Pioneer hide and set off home. Will be back in the spring to catch the migration and to catch up with my regular garden warblers at their usual spot.

Sightings (39) included: black-headed gull, blackbird, blue tit, bullfinch, buzzard, canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, common gull, coot, cormorant, dunnock, gadwall, goldfinch, great crested grebe, great tit, green woodpecker, greenfinch, grey heron, greylag goose, lapwing, little egret, long-tailed tit, magpie, mallard, moorhen, mute swan, pochard, red-crested pochard, redwing, reed bunting, robin, shelduck, shoveler, starling, teal, tufted duck, wigeon and woodpigeon.

Harbourside Park, Poole :: 15 February 2017

After a delicious lunch at Rick Steins place in Sandbanks we went for a stroll along the promenade. Parking was running out so we decided to pop down to Poole to park up and have a look out at the water. As we got into the car park I noted a bird on the barbed wire ahead, flitting back and forth across the train line, so took out the camera and went to investigate.

Turned out to be a female stonechat, new for this year. Nothing too exciting spotted when we tried to add to Charlotte's daily steps but made my day to see the little stonechat.

RSPB Arne :: 14 February 2017

A two night break in Bournemouth visiting Eilidh. As usual we started with brunch down in the Harvester at the foot of the Durley Chine. Amazing value breakfast! Filled up we thought about a walk along the promenade but the wind was a little strong. We decided to stop down at the promenade along Sandbanks instead. The usual gulls were active along the eaters edge and on the various land reclaimed follwing the low tide. As we appraoched an area hosting piles of decaying seaweed we saw a small flock of 13 turnstone working furiously on turning the seaweed to expose their own lunch. Soon after we came to an area of sand where we could see redshank, more gulls including common, and finally a group of 7 bar-tailed godwit.

The next day we decided to travel over to RSPB Arne, particularly to try out the new reserve cafe! Arrived in dull and mizzle weather conditions so decided to have some lunch before embarking on a walk. Delious soup devoured we decided to try the heathland trail where we were reliably informed that we would see very large numbers of avocet. Quite quiet on the way down to the estuary but when we got there we were greeted by more thand 500 avocet and the same in brent geese. There were large numbers of lapwing, redshank, dunlin and shelduck too. We continued round to the hide and spent some time scanning the birds and talking with a couple weilding a scope each. This helped us locate a pair on pintail ducks.

From here we continued round the heathland and away from the waters edge. I was listening, hoping to hear the tones of a datrford warber and as I lost the family over the brow of a hill I thought I headr one. To check I opened my phone app and played the sounds. Sure enough the warbler called back. I found it through binoculars but was only able to get a blurred mass when attempting a photo. The family turned to come and retrieve me and we continued back towards the carpark. Before we got there I suggested the girls all went to have a coffee and cake at the cafe while \i quickly followed the 'seasonal raptor trail'. No raptors but I did come across a green woodpecket and then heard another dartford warbler. I used my app again and this time the warbler came into view long enough to get off a photo. I then met a couple who listened to the darford in the bushes but he was not showing for them. They said that they hadn't seen anything of note ahead so I turned and made for the cafe - cream tea with scone!

Sightings (35) included: avocet, blackbird, black-headed gull, black-tailed godwit, blue tit, brent goose, buzzard, carrion crow, chaffinch, coal tit, curlew, dartford warbler, dunlin, dunnock, goldfinch, great tit, green woodpecker, house sparrow, lapwing, little egret, long-tailed tit, mallard, nuthatch, oystercatcher, pied wagtail, pintail, raven, redshank, robin, shelduck, siskin, teal, wigeon, woodpigeon and wren.

At home, Banbury :: 12 February 2017

What a way to spend Sunday lunch. We were sitting there tucking into our roast beef when Charlotte spotted a sparrowhawk on the back fence. Not the first time we've had one there but we haven't had one since last summer. It hung around until the end of the course so I ran upstairs to take a photo. I saw why it was staying around; it had a group of sparrow, dunnock and blackbird trapped in a forsythia bush. The sprawk grew tired of waiting and climed into the bush. At this point a couple of sparrows and a blackbird made a break for it and briefly the sparrowhawk made chase but soon realising how difficult it had been to extract itself from the bush.

It then started circling the bush from the ground trying to spook the remaining quarry. After quite some time a dunnock was foolish enough to break out and was dispatched with ease. The sprawk then sat on the fence and post plucking and devouring its catch - amazing. Posted some photos on Twitter and managed to get a retweet and comment from @ChrisGPackham.

Apple pie to finish!