Grafham Water & Paxton Pits 8 April 2013

Freshening easterlies today, after a very cold start  temperatures reached a heady 10 degrees at midday. A wander along Grafham Dam in the early morning was followed up with a lunchtime visit to the northern end of Paxton Pits.

The first-winter drake Velvet Scoter was off the dam still and even closer to the shore, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull flew over south, c 60 Redwings were around Marlow with many now singing their chattering songs from the treetops seemingly restless for departure, c.65 mostly migrant Blackbirds in the same general area was a very good showing (falls of this species on the east coast yesterday and today apparently) c 30 Linnets and c 40 Meadow Pipits were doubtless also migrants. 

First-winter drake Velvet Scoter 

Paxton Pits at lunchtime delivered a single cream crown Marsh Harrier heading over east at 12.38 , 3 Smew (1 drake), 2 4th calendar year Yellow-Legged Gulls, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Knot, 2 flighty Rock Pipits and 4 - now singing - Chiffchaffs. 

Did a little birding over the weekend mostly very locally, the most interesting observation was a marked passage of Black-headed and Common Gulls north-east along the Great Ouse valley on Saturday with 8000 Black-heads at least and not following the usual flight line. Otherwise 21 Snipe and a single Jack Snipe on Lammas Meadow on Saturday were rather nice to see on the doorstep... 

Little Ringed Plover - Paxton Pits