Last farm count for 2012

Sunday 31 December 2012

Considering the recent weather it was almost spring like for my 93^rd count of Battle Farm, Preston Crowmarsh. Nothing new to add to the site count of 84 species but 3 Egyption Geese flying over, Bullfinch and Chiffchaff were worthy of note. The 283 birds, of 29 species, brought the overall total since 2005 through the 25000 barrier. 3 Roe deer were nice to see.

New 2012 bird for Ewelme

Wednesday 26 December 2012

A quiet time on the watercress beds but a pleasant surprise was a Woodcock flying through the site.

More Grey Partridges

Sunday 23 december 2012

16 of these on the back-way returning from the watercress beds near Cottesmore Lane.

Garden Blackcap again

Thursday 20 December 2012

The male Blackcap in the garden has been joined by a female - perhaps joined is not quite the right word as I am yet to see the two of them in the garden together. Mind you that's not too surprising as the male seems to have an attitude problem.

Dorchester WeBS

Monday 17 December 2012

Probably the best count this year with two Ruff on the Day's Lock scrape, a female Smew on the Allen Pit and two Goldeneye on Sailing Club Pit. I wonder if Goldeneye have ever outnumbered Coot on a Dorchester Lake (on a sunny day in December). Not too sure what is going on but just one Coot on that lake.

Blackcap - King of the garden

Saturday 15 December 2012

Most winters I get at least one Blackcap in the garden but I have never had one that behaved like this year's tenant.  It will not let Dunnocks, Chaffinches, Blue or Great Tits or Goldfinches anywhere near the feeders. It even chased off a Reed Bunting the other day and seems evenly matched with the resident Robin. We had a rare visit from a Great Spot and the Blackcap was very agitated but decided that discretion was the better part of valour when he say the beak of the woodpecker.

At Last!

Saturday 8 December 2012

Finally found a Water Rail at Ewelme - of course it could have been around for ages and in hiding! Also a small party of Waxwings in Benson, though what they are finding to eat I cannot imagine as the winter thrushes have just about cleared all the berries. In the same area, behind the Meer development a couple of Reed Buntings.

Another Blackcap

Wednesday 5 December 2012
A second Blackcap for the winter - this one a female seen at Rivermead, Benson