Sunday December 10 - mostly Morton Bagot

 Dave and I had a one hour window of dry weather to splash around Morton Bagot this morning before the rain arrived with a vengeance. Highlights were a Kingfisher at the garden pool at Clowse Farm (viewed from the road), a Green Sandpiper flushed from Kingfisher Pool, and a Stonechat in the usual spot at the top of the field behind the pool. The latter had swelled with rain water, but contained only a couple of Mallard. The flash field harboured 50 Mallard, 14 Teal, and five Lapwings.

The cloudy weather didn't encourage me to get the camera out, but fortunately I had benefitted from a phone call from Tony and Leigh on Saturday afternoon. They had been strolling around Arrow Valley Lake and had come across a Pintail. It's only five minutes from my house, so I joined them and got some shots.

Pintail at Arrow Valley Lake

It was quite a windy afternoon, but the only other noteworthy species were at least eight Goosanders.

Tony had also been stumbling around Morton Bagot in the dark on Thursday night spotting at least five or six Woodcocks with his night vision binoculars. He also dazzled and caught three Woodcocks and a Jack Snipe, and has kindly shared a picture of the latter.

Jack Snipe in the hand on Thursday night

Returning to this morning's effort, we reckoned that Redwings were present in smaller numbers than last weekend. They have almost finished stripping the hedgerows of berries, so I guess that once again no Waxwings will be encouraged to give us a look this winter.

And finally, back home in Winyates East I discovered that our regular visiting Blackcap is in fact two Blackcaps. The camera was fished out in an attempt to get both birds in shot. Unfortunately they weren't particularly matey, so you'll have to peer closely at the next photo to see both birds.

Here's a clue; top right and bottom left

They did come a lot closer....but not together.

Blackcap A

Blackcap B

These birds will have come from central Europe for the winter. A case of evolution in action as wintering Blackcaps have learnt to exploit gardens over the course of the last fifty or so years. It's all in the genes.