It's been a pretty good weekend. Even yesterday in dense freezing fog I managed three year-ticks; a Siskin at Matchborough when I went to pick up a prescription from the pharmacy, a male Blackcap in the garden, and a calling Redpoll when I made a brief attempt (unsuccessful) to see six Hawfinches which Andy Gooding had seen in the churchyard at Studley.
I needn't have worried about Hawfinch because this morning Dave and I found one at Morton Bagot, the first here this year. Our initial sighting was a bird flying out of view behind a hedge, but a couple of hours later we located what was probably the same bird at the far end of the dragonfly pool field. This time it perched up and proved to be a splendid male.
Thanks to the presence of birds at Studley, this was not my first this year, but walking around the still frozen site we managed to add seven species to my year list.
The first was a Tawny Owl, which showed very well as usual. Less auspicious additions followed; a flock of a dozen Snipe in flight, a party of 14 Lapwings heading west, a very brief view of a Stonechat in flight, a Little Egret, and a Reed Bunting.
The one I've missed out was arguably the best of the day. Unfortunately it was also the most distant, a drake Goosander which flew south-west. It was my first here since 2018.
The ringers were on site, and while we were with them we had a Yellowhammer fly over at considerable height. A noteworthy site record these days.
Although there didn't appear to be any Teal, Moorhens or other water birds present, as soon as the pools thaw they should return.
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