Grafham Water - 22 March 2013

Fierce conditions this morning, although the air temperature was 3 degrees a bitterly cold easterly wind originating way east of the Baltic made it feel more like -3. Spent five hours from 08:00 hrs covering the  Dam, Marlow, Hill Farm, Lagoons and Fishing Lodge and adjacent areas.

The highlight was an unexpected mini 'fall' of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests with 9 of the former all typical collybita types calling only not singing, and c. 23 of the latter away from their typical spring haunts feeding in low scrub and brambles in locations that made it quite evident that they were migrants e.g 2 in an isolated Hawthorne below the dam. The peak spring period for Goldcrests migrating through the UK back to the continent and points east is mid March to mid April and the fierce easterlies doubtless forced them to drop in to feed and rest...

Other sightings included 2 drake Smew (1 Lagoons, 1 west of Hill Farm), 28 Shelduck on the Lagoons, a total count of 128 Goldeneye, the Slavonian Grebe between the lagoons and the Yacht Club mid morning, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Dunlin, along the north shore, 1 Turnstone in Dudney Creek, 10 Redshank (definitely fewer than yesterday), 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 Rock Pipit seen in flight only west over Marlow, 8 Redwings, 8 + Siskins at the lagoons, 4 Redpolls sp at the lagoons and a small flock of 17 Yellowhammers with 4 Reed Buntings in the stubble field north of the Dam. 

Smew

Goldcrest