Sunday February 19

Another cloudy morning. Mild with a very light south-westerly breeze.

This was not one of our more memorable visits, although it got off to a reasonable start with a very distant female Goosander followed by an even more distant flock of Golden Plovers. Later on we saw about 200 Goldies flying north somewhere beyond Studley but just visible from the patch. Continuing with the theme of distant views, a pair of Peregrines were circling and chasing one another, briefly locking talons before going their separate ways.

There were a few encouraging signs suggesting the commencement of spring, with small parties of Fieldfares going over, 28 in total, and three new Stonechats. These were a dark female in the ridge field, and a male and peachy looking female in the chat field.

Stonechat

Any thoughts of Siberian Stonechat were dispelled when it flew, revealing no sign of a pale rump. Ah well, one day perhaps.

The pool was almost devoid of birds, while the flashes contained at least 93 Lapwings and two Green Sandpipers. Several Teal lurked in the long grass, and Dave spotted a Wigeon which briefly took flight before returning to the puddles in the damp field where it resumed invisibility.

The walk back got us brief views of a pair of Siskins and a Sparrowhawk, while a Mistle Thrush sang from Netherstead.

Siskin

Sparrowhawk

Better luck next time.