23rd December 2008

(8.50am - 4.30pm)

Highlights:

10+ Siskins in Alders near scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake - from 9.30 to 10.30am at least (no sign of any Redpolls)

Water Rail - Seen from Wetland 3 hide (about 1.30pm)

Chinese Water Deer - Long Meadow
Kittiwake - adult in roost - (found by Keith Owen)

Chinese Water Deer - Long Meadow Siskin- near scrapyard corner
Wigeon - Pillinge

Partial albino Moorhen - Wetland 3

22nd December 2008

(8.40am - 2.50pm)
Highlights
1+ Chiffchaff and 2+ Goldcrests - Sewage works

Goldcrest - Sewage works Canada Geese and Feral Goose - Near visitors centre Shoveler - Wetland 3 (Digiscoped from hide in poor light at full Nikon Coolpix zoom)
Teal - Wetland 3Tufted Duck - Pillinge

21st December 2008

9am - 3.30pm
Highlights:
Scaup - Stewartby Lake - 9am only
Sparrohawk & 3 Redshank - Pillinge
Yellow-legged Gull - Stewartby Lake (in roost)

The Cormorant and Lapwing photos below were digiscoped using my new Nikon ED50 with 27x Wide-angle DS lens in bright but windy conditions...
Goldifinch - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake

Lapwing - Pillinge - digiscoped at full (non-digital) zoom on my Nikon 4500 Coolpix + ED50 scope.

Cormorants - Pillinge (Digiscoped)

8th November 2008

8am - 3pm

Visitors Centre -Sewage works - Wetlands (Guided Walk) - Sewage works

Highlights:

(Guided walk)

Redpolls - seen in flight near Stewartby lake
Water Rail and Bullfinch - Wetland 3

Stonechat - near Wetland 9

Green Woodpecker - Sewage Works

male Stonechat - near Wetland 9

Green Woodpecker - Sewage works

Meadow Pipit - Stewartby Lake - near Sewage works

7th November 2008

7.30am - 4pm (Gullwatch - Visitors Centre - access track- Millbrook Station - Wetlands- Gullwatch)
Highlights:
30 Golden Plover over Wetland 1 and male Stonechat there
3 Goldeneye on Pillinge
Buzzard - Visitors Centre
Chinese Water Deer - Wetland 3
Grey Wagtail - Sewage works




A Sparrowhawk and Carrion Crow mobbing each other over the gullwatch.

Pied Wagtail - Visitors Centre

Great Black-backed Gull - Pillinge

Goldfinch - Pillinge

Redwing - Pillinge

Goldeneye - Pillinge

The view from the Wetland 3 hide.

Chinese Water Deer - Wetland 3

19th October 2008

Highlights:
1 male Stonechat - seen distantly on fence between Wetlands 3 and 9
Smaller numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares seen today, most were near the Pillinge
Sparrowhawk - Pillinge
2-3 Goldcrests near the Wetland 3 hide, the Cetti's Warbler was calling a bit more often today but I still didn't get any views of it...
Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Coot, Moorhen and Mallard - Wetland 3
Long-tailed Tit - Wetland 1
Goldcrest by Wetland 3 hide

18th October 2008

Highlights:
There was a big influx of Redwings and Fieldfares overnight and continuing until about 9am this morning with flocks of both (c80% Redwings) passing over.
I spent about 3 hours looking for a Cetti's Warbler near Wetland 3. Hear one brief call, but couldn't see it.. :-(
Common Buzzard, Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall, Stock Dove and Green Woodpecker all at Pillinge
6 Meadow Pipits and Kingfisher - near visitors centre.
Fieldfare - one of many flying over the Country Park in small flocks.
A group of 5 Shoveler flying over the Pillinge
Mute Swan -Pillinge
Greylags and Cormorants - Pillinge
A view over the wetland 1 reedbed
A pair of Wigeon - Pillinge
Feral Pigeon - visitors centre.