New Arrivals

Highlights from an hour at Lotmead Farm this morning were my first Shoveler here on the pool, a Tawny Owl calling and a Water Rail showing really well on the far bank. There was also a good passage of Wood Pigeons, with three large flocks passing overhead with 200+, 100+ and 100+. Not to be outdone there were also 200+ Fieldfare & Redwing which were heading west.

Below are a few record shots and video from this morning. Apologies for the background noise on the video. One it was windy and secondly the very low-light conditions causes the camera to continually track the subject and consequently you get a constant clicking.

Dawn and the sun isn't quite up yet at 6:57am.

A Water Rail showed well this morning on the far bank.

The Water Rail feeding along the waters edge.

Three of the five Shoveler on the pool. My first here.

A Grey Heron in the Paddock Area.

One of five "black" Pheasants around the pool. Close-up more a dark red than black.

A Common Buzzard struggles to keep his balance in the strong wind

Birds Recorded: 1 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Mute Swan, 11 Mallard, 5 Wigeon, 6 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 1 Buzzard, 30 Pheasant, 1 Water Rail, 11 Moorhen, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Stock Dove, 400+ Wood Pigeon, 1 Tawny Owl heard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 200+ Fieldfare & Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 50+ Starling, House Sparrow, 5 Chaffinch, 6 Goldfinch, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Yellowhammer and 1 Reed Bunting.

Also 2 Roe Deer

(Martin Adlam)

A Midday Visit to the Farm

Most of my trips to the Reserve Pool at Lotmead have been early morning visits, so it made a change to visit during the middle of the day. The biggest difference was the lack of ducks with just 7 Wigeon and 2 Teal. Noticeably there were no Mallard at all.

Main highlight here today was my first on the patch, a very vocal Tawny Owl at the back of the pool, that seemed to be quite stressed out about something! Other highlights were dozens Redwing and Fieldfares, flying backwards and forwards over the pool and 5 "black" Pheasants. Not seen that many before.

Here are a few images from today and a short video of the Tawny Owl calling.

A Fieldfare and Redwing (right) in a Hawthorn

Is it safe to come out......

.....4 of the 5 "black" Pheasants on the Reserve.

A straggler.

Here are two of the 7 Wigeon here today. I suspect the other 40+ will be back this evening.

In the middle of this Spindle-tree (Euonymus europaeus), with its vivid pink fruits and orange seeds is a Long-tailed Tit.

Sat in an old Oak tree are 8 Collared Doves, a Carrion Crow and 2 Starlings.

Tawny Owl calling at the back of Lotmead Farm Nature Reserve Pool

Birds Recorded: 1 Mute Swan, 7 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 1 Sparrowhawk, 18 Pheasant, 7 Moorhen, 1 Black-headed Gull, 2 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, 8 Collared Dove, 1 Tawny Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 5 Blackbird, 15+ Fieldfare, 80+ Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 30+ Starling, 15+ House Sparrow, 20+ Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Bullfinch.

Also 5 Black Pheasants