There was a gradual build up of Black Tailed Godwits on Mill Mead this morning. Two birds were initially noted with a third bird joining them mid morning. At 1215 a flock of 5 birds flew in low from the east. The Buzzard (3) that were in the area all morning regularly put the wildfowl skywards. The Black Tailed Godwit 9 joined the Lapwing 85,
Other counts on the water meadows;- Snipe 8, Wigeon 137, Teal 21, Geese; Canada 209, Greylag 2, Common Gull 64,
WeBS Count totals:-
Site totals:- Goosander (2), Canada Goose (142), Mute
Swan (16), Wigeon (83), Teal (22), Shoveler (1), Mallard (19), Snipe (9), Green Sandpiper (1), Lapwing (152), Moorhen (8), Little
Grebe (3), Common Gull (1), Herring Gull (47), Grey Heron (6), Little Egret
(8), Buzzard (6), Kestrel (1), Sparrowhawk (1)
Site totals:- Yellowhammer (24), Reed Bunting (14), Linnet
(93), Chaffinch (111),Goldfinch (9), Bullfinch (2), Robin (7), Stonechat (2), House
Sparrow (39), Blackbird (20), Redwing (17), Fieldfare (6), Song Thrush (2), Skylark
(2),
A day of rare birds visiting the Farm. The bird of the day was a male Hen Harrier which spent some time hunting over Little Straps before flying S over the A35. This species was last recorded on the farm in the 1990's.
Earlier a Great Egret was seen flying from the meadows NW. This was the third record for the farm.
The Tufted Duck 1w female was on the Causeway pond along with a Coot a species which is rare on the farm.
Today's other counts on the farm, Green Sandpiper 4, Snipe 8, Canada Geese 100, Shoveler 1m, Wigeon 50, Teal 24, Lapwing 115, Raven,
Today's counts on the farm, Geese; Greylag 16, Canada 149, Shoveler 1m, Wigeon 59, Lapwing 55, Raven 2, Redwing 13, Reed Bunting 13, Yellowhammer 16, Chaffinch 64, Stonechat 2; Wood Pigeon 687 & Stock Dove 51 (fields)
Today's counts on the flooded meadows;- Geese: Greylag 15 Canada 133; Lapwing 74, Shoveler 1m, Wigeon 73, Teal 12, Gulls: Common 16, Herring 36, Black Headed 30,
A full day spent on the farm. Sightings of the day were a Merlin that flew E through Tractor House field at 1620. Barn Owl 2 were noted at dusk during the walk back to my car.
Chaffinch (135), Yellowhammer (13), Linnet (35), Reed Bunting (15) numbers are increasing with the feeding stations now open.
Goldfinch (13) Siskin (12) feeding in the Alders at Athelhampton.
Visits to the flooded meadows produced the following counts:-
Wigeon (44) (Mill mead), Teal (6) and Green Sandpiper (2) (Athelhampton), Mute Swan (16),
Redwing (6) and Meadow Pipit are present on the meadows.
Today's counts on the flooded meadows: Tufted Duck 1wF still on Causeway pond.
Greylag Goose 11 Canada Goose 53; Wigeon 26, Teal 3, Lapwing 13, Peregrine, Brambling (Little Straps near Waterbarn Cottages)
There was a gradual build up of Black Tailed Godwits on Mill Mead this morning. Two birds were initially noted with a third bird joining the...
