Raven before Rook!

With much of the reservoir frozen the wildfowl numbers have dwindled. I did eventually catch up with a Great crested grebe on the 5th. It was sitting on the ice and looked very unhappy. This species obviously is forced to move when lakes freeze over, but I have never seen one flying over open country. New species added to the list included Goosander(3),Lapwing(40),and Raven(4) all on the 8th, and Rook and Grey Heron on the 9th. All three Tossers have had Raven before Rook this year. My ringing highlight was trying out my new whoosh net and catching this Belgium ringed Black Headed Gull. ( See the Charnwood ringing group website for more details). Finally, a very interesting talk by David Lindo was enjoyed at the recent L.R.O.S. meeting. His local patch is around Wormwood Scrubs in west London. His mates who watch this site are known as Scrubbers, who I am certain would hit it off with us Tossers!

O.M.T.L.!

At 0915 on 2nd a quick glance out of my bathroom window and a Red Kite was added to my Toilet list. It flew off down the valley to the south west. Today 3 Waxwings were in the village, but very flighty, and not yet O.M.T.L!

T.O.S. Welcome 2011.

It was a rare event for all three members of TOS to welcome in 2011 with a New years day bird species count. Weather conditions were not ideal but we persevered and having gone our separate ways,(Tossers, as the name implies are solitary creatures), I eventually ended the day on 56, 4 down on last year. Highlights were 2 fly over Golden Plover, Water Rail, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Willow tit, 2 Woodcock and Little and Tawny Owl. The owls were both given away by the nearby presence of Carrion Crows.