Saturday, 5 January 2013
Farmoor and Thrupp Lake: Sat 5th Jan
Quite a few changes from a few days back - listed here - noticed during Tom Wickens monthly guided bird walk, attended by 7 persons. 0830-1030 4m/2f Pintail flew around F2. 2m/2f Shoveler F2. c30 Teal on river. Pochard and Tufted groups flying frequently. Scaup missing (not even Dai could find them!). Slav Grebe relocated to N/E of F1 after months on S/W. 2m/7f Goldeneye including displaying. Peregrine spooking BH Gulls on the Thames/flooded plain. Sparrowhawk. Buzzard. 2 Mipits east side of F1. Dunnocks and Robin in song. Flock of feeding finches just north of Pinkhill hide parking area, much reduced. VERY quick scan of Thrupp Lake from east side only, around 12noon, did not reveal Smew, but that may well be down to its ability to always be 'the other side' of an island. With Smooth and Great Crested Newts also recorded on the move to breeding sites; changes certainly seem to be happening after Tuesday's sunshine, following a couple of months of stagnation. Long may it continue(?).
