Saturday (24.03.12) was a scorcher! Absolutely roasting. Was doing 3 miles for sport relief the next day so went on a 3-hour run/walk north of Syresham. The usual pinebelt at SP 630 427 held 2 Crossbill again and they both showed really well especially the male which broke into song several times. Crossbills are rapidly becoming one of my favourite birds. They're really unusual looking things and their behaviour is great to watch...illustrated by the male hanging upside down on a pine cone, only for the cone to fall off the tree leaving the crossbill to go flying!
The Golden Plover flock was still about, several with their black bellies now showing. There were around 50 birds today, constantly calling and circling around right overhead at times just West of the pine belt. Also in the area was the single resident Tree Sparrow holding territory in the NE corner of the sheepfield in the roadside hedge. A nice find were 2 Roe Deer which just ran out of a hedgerow just West of the Pine belt, the first ones I've seen in the county.
I also went a little further along the Wappenham road. There were just tonnes of Buzzards everywhere and plenty of Chiffchaffs singing in most copses. In a horsefield at SP 631 434 was a fresh looking male White Wagtail accompanied by 2 male Pied Wagtails which wasn't a massive shock given the time of year, however a nice suprise.
The next day (Sunday 25.03.12) the weather gain was stunning! After the 3 mile run, which was great fun by the way, I was very kean to get some decent photos of the Crossbills before they move on. On getting there it wasn't looking hopeful, with the farmer crop spraying right next to the pine belt. But after a while he disappeared and the 2 Crossbills (male & female) did eventually show briefly before moving to the small pine plantation slightly North of the usual one. Here, the male showed off particularly well again and as I'd hoped, I managed to get some decent shots (below). However before I could get a few more, they flew off, heading south.
After this I decided to head for Daventry and to Borough Hill for Wheatear and Daventry Country Park for recently reported Little Gull. First stop was Borough Hill. Was a few people knocking around there but mainly around the hill perimeter walk. Walking through the centre, it wasn't too long before I locked onto a pristine spring male Wheatear on the north side of the transmitting compound. It was so active and gave me the run around for a while. There wasn't too much else other than a Raven calling from behind the large copse, 1 or 2 Meadow Pipits, tonnes of Skylark and several showy Green Woodpeckers.
Daventry CP had so many people there, it was insane! There was very little bird-wise with nothing more exciting than a male Goldeneye.
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