Thursday 21st March
Dry, light frost, sunny periods, moderate easterlies, daytime temp 4C

Skywatch from North end of Barleyfield 06:00- 07:00 then
Mid-section of reserve - Compton to Newbridge including Barleyfield and Compton Park

Skywatch:
Canada Goose 6 West and 1 NE
Black-headed Gull 15 SW
Lesser Black-backed Gull 14 SW
Meadow Pipit 2 N
Starling 160 SW (largest group of 90, peaked at 06:20)
Chaffinch 5 E

Mid-section highlights:
Buzzard - one flew into the college ground trees on the ridge from the South early
Sparrowhawk - usually the best time to watch birds of prey is later on in the day, when the air is warmer. However, this morning I was treated to 3 birds displaying high overhead from 6:10am!! The poor light conditions and varying heights of the birds made it hard to be sure of their sex, (i felt that it was 2 females and a male) but they took turns in performing displays involving undulating, rapid climbs and closed wing dives.
Gulls: 26 Black-headed Gulls, 3 adult and a 1st Winter Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 adult Herring Gulls were on the playing field by the Wolves Academy.
Green Woodpecker - one was calling early from the Eastern Border and then a female spent over half an hour in an Alder at the North East corner of the Barleyfield.
Grey Wagtail- it appears we now have a settled pair, and they were noted again today around and over the Compton Park wetland site.
Goldcrest- these beautiful little birds are becoming more obvious and its so good to see them after such a harsh Winter. One was near Compton Lock.
Magpie - the Compton Park Winter roost is still forming and 25 late risers were noted around Compton Park.
Carrion Crow - Its amazing how the corvids on Henwood ridge, appear to vary daily. Some days you see just Jackdaws. This morning c15 Carrion Crows were flying around the ridge above the college.
Starlings - 2 birds were singing at their Newbridge breeding stronghold. The modern DIY culture and plastic soffets and fascia boards, fitted to properties offer no nesting opportunities, but it seems that there are still enough older properties around the village, to allow you to see these birds throughout the Spring and Summer on the roofs and t.v. aerials across the canal.
Siskin - 2 went South over Meccano Bridge, and a rowdy individual was calling as it circled over Newbridge canal bridges and houses later.

Census:
Mallard: 18 male and 4 female
Moorhen: 7
Dunnock: 10 singing: Graisley Culvert, Compton "Rough" (3), Prefab Weir, South of Meccano Bridge (2), The Academy, The Paddocks (2)
Song Thrush: singing bird numbers well down on last month: 1 at the annex of the Barleyfield and one in the Paddock.
Great Tit: 4 pairs: Compton Lock, Station Paddock, the main Paddock and Graisley Culvert
Long-tailed Tit: a good showing this morning: Graisley Culvert (2), the Barleyfield Crossings (2), Compton "Rough" (3), Meccano Bridge (4), Newbridge (2).

Total: 32 species