Woodoaks Farm

An early afternoon walk to the farm in cold conditions produced little of note.
At the barn area where a small amount of stored wheat grain remains 14 Yellowhammer were flushed and overhead both Fieldfare and Redwing were nosily on the move.
At Ladywalk wood a single Green Woodpecker "yaffled" from its roost on a tall Ash and nearby several Jackdaw were busily searching for nest sites.
On returning back towards the farm I flushed a single Meadow Pipit as I approached the manure pile before heading home for a a nice hot cuppa!
   

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve and Lynsters Farm

An afternoon visit in sunny but cold conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (2 at clubhouse lake), Great-crested Grebe (Lynsters G.P), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (Lynsters G.P), Greylag Goose (3 Lynsters G.P), Canada Goose (3 Lynsters Farm), Egyptian Goose (3 Lynsters Farm), Wigeon (3 Lynsters G.P), Teal (8), Mallard (11), Tufted Duck (Lynsters G.P), Red Kite (1), Sparrowhawk (flushed Redwing from Long Hedge), Kestrel (female above paddock), Moorhen (11), Coot (6 at clubhouse lake), Black-headed Gull (30 from Long Hedge Hide), Common Gull (1 over), Feral Rock Dove (2 over), Stock Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (2), Pied Wagtail (5 Lynsters Farm), Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare (3), Redwing (c20), Goldcrest (2), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay (2), Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch (2), Siskin (c40 in Alder Plantation).
From the Teal hide I observed a doe Muntjack feeding on a highly vegetated island.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

An afternoon visit to the reserve in unsettled but mild conditions produced the following species of note;
Little Grebe (1 Clubhouse Lake), Greylag Goose (21 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (4 Lynsters Farm), Egyptian Goose (4 Lynsters Farm), Wigeon (10 Lynsters Farm), Teal (13), Mallard (c20), Northern Shoveler (10 Clubhouse Lake), Tufted Duck (4 Clubhouse Lake), Red-crested Pochard (pair at Lynsters G.P viewed from Lynsters Hide), Red Kite (1 from Rotunda Hide), Sparrowhawk (1 from Clubhouse), Green Sandpiper (1 from Rotunda Hide), Ring-necked Parakeet (1 at Clubhouse feeding station), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Pied Wagtail (6 Lynsters Farm), Redwing (9), Jay (2), Jackdaw (38 Lynsters Farm), Siskin (c50 at Alder plantation).
Early signs of spring were observed with Lords and Ladies beginning to push new growth through the leaf litter while Hazel catkins danced in the light breeze. Water levels are slowly rising with water returning to the marsh adjacent Rotunda Hide.

                                          Red-crested Pochard at Lynsters Gravel Pit

                                          Wigeon grazing at Lynsters Farm

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

An afternoon visit in mild, sunny conditions provided the following species:-
Great-crested Grebe (Lynsters Gravel Pit), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (Lynsters Gravel Pit), Greylag Goose (43 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (9 Lynsters Farm), Egyptian Goose (3 Lynsters Farm), Gadwall (Lynsters Gravel Pit), Teal (13), Mallard (16), Northern Shoveler (8), Tufted Duck (Lynsters Gravel Pit), Sparrowhawk (1), Kestrel (1), Moorhen (17), Coot (3), Green Sandpiper (3), Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull (over), Feral Rock Dove (c10 Lynsters Farm), Stock Dove, Woodpigeon (c100), Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (2 Lynsters Farm), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing (c60), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Jay (1), Magpie (2), Carrion Crow (2), Chaffinch, Goldfinch (2). 

                                          3 Green Sandpiper from Teal Hide.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

A morning visit provided the following species:-
Great-crested Grebe (Lynsters G.P), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan ( Lynsters G.P), Greylag Goose (1 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (2 Lynsters Farm), Gadwall (4 Lynsters G.P), Teal (23), Mallard (14), Tufted Duck (Lynsters G.P), Moorhen (17), Coot (2), Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 over), Stock Dove (7), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (Lynsters Farm), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing (c30), Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow (1 at Owl nest box), Chaffinch, Siskin (20).

Broadwater Gravel Pit

A late morning visit in mild conditions produced the following species:-
Great-crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret (1), Grey Heron,  Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Wigeon (23), Gadwall (6), Mallard, Northern Shoveler (29), Pochard (72), Tufted Duck, Goldeneye (6), Sparrowhawk, Water Rail (1), Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing (30), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull (3), Woodpigeon, Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare (3), Redwing, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff (6), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch (2), Siskin (c20).
A brief visit to Tilehouse north gravel pit produced a single Common Buzzard with c200 Fieldfare noted feeding nearby on the winter wheat fields at West Hyde.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all, I haven't been out in the field recently but hope to get out soon and update you on my new year sightings.

All the best
Paul