Canons Farm is not renowned for ducks - until today, just three species had been recorded - but now Gadwall can be added to that list, when a drake was picked up by Steve Gale, (and seen by two other observers), as it flew low over The Slangs in a NW direction. This is the 143rd species to be recorded on site. The (presumed same) male Northern Wheatear remained faithful to the Reeds Bottom area, there was an increase in Chiffchaff numbers in the woods, and a small passage of Meadow Pipits was observed. Also there was a fine cross section of raptors to enjoy.
Canons Farm: 1 CORMORANT, 9 MALLARD (Canons Residential, bar one drake that tried to land on the flooded dip opposite Perrotts Farmhouse), 1 GADWALL (a drake NW over The Slangs at 10.45hrs - 75th species for the year), 2 PHEASANT, 3-4 RED KITE, 6 COMMON BUZZARD, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 1 PEREGRINE (Slangs), 2 KESTREL, 6 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, 7 STOCK DOVE, 3 GREEN WOODPECKER, 1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (♀on feeders at Reeds Rest Cottages), 2 LITTLE OWL (Circle Field, Broadfield), 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 100+ HERRING GULL, 15+ SKYLARK, 24 MEADOW PIPIT (a trickle North, plus a few grounded in Harrier Field), 1 PIED WAGTAIL, 1 NORTHERN WHEATEAR (♂ Reeds Bottom),1♀ STONECHAT (Horse Pasture), 1 CHIFFCHAFF (Pages Acre), 3 REDWING (Death Pit), 10 SONG THRUSH, 2 LONG-TAILED TIT, 115+ LINNET (Quail/Skylark Field), 10 GOLDFINCH (Pheasant Field), 6 YELLOWHAMMER (Broadfield).
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| Red Kite, Canons Farm, 29/03/16 (Duncan Jennings) |
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| Northern Wheatear, Reeds Bottom, 29/03/16 (Duncan Jennings) |
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| Northern Wheatear, Reeds Bottom, 29/03/16 (Duncan Jennings) |
Observers: Geoff Barter, Steve Gale, Duncan Jennings
