14-10-12 Stockers Lake & Bury Lake

An afternoon visit to conduct a Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (1), Great-crested Grebe (9), Great Cormorant (24), Grey Heron (3), Little Egret (1), Mute Swan (23), Greylag Goose (23), Canada Goose (125), Mallard (37), Domestic Mallard (2), Northern Shoveler (8), Common Pochard (39), Tufted Duck (86), Common Moorhen (5), Eurasian Coot (118), Black-headed Gull (54), Common Gull (1), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Stock Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (2), Wren, European Robin (4), Common Blackbird (3), Goldcrest (2), Blue Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch.

13-10-12 John O'Gaunts Trout Fishery, Stockbridge Hampshire

Situated on the outskirts of King Somborne in the Test Valley some 200 yards from the River Test this wonderfully located fishery was the venue for the Croxley fly fishing Society. Arriving early morning there was a chill in the air and the sun had just began to burn off the light mist covering both lakes and the nearby River Test. 
By 11:00 am I had caught my 4 fish quota and so with Steve Carter and Tom Mixture we headed off for a walk along the bank of the river. Several Redwing were noted overhead and a wonderful Barn Owl was flushed from its Crack Willow roost, a superb addition to the 2 Common Raven I had observed overhead earlier. A couple of Roe Deer were noted briefly as they fed in the undergrowth before we headed off back to the fishery.   

                                          My first fish of the day.

                                          Steve Carter preparing to cast a fly.

                                         Early morning view as the sun began to rise.