Oystercatchers pairing up
A very poor photo with phone of Little Owl on hedgerow
A second Oystercatcher joined our first arrival on Saturday and the pair looked to be prospecting for a suitable nest site.
Over at Pophills the Skylarks were in good voice again. I managed to flush four Jack Snipes which I got within inches of. The first bird flushing didn't effect the others and it wasn't until I got close to each bird in turn they revealed themselves. Shelduck numbers had increased to four whilst Teal and Tufted Duck numbers remain the same.
I was over at Upton Warren on Sunday (more of that on next blog) but Jon reported 140 Teal, three Shoveler, an adult male Merlin hunting in the snipe meadow, pair of Peregrines , five Water Rail, six Jack Snipe, 75 Common Snipe, an exceptional flock of 36 Curlews which flew through to north-east, Green Sandpiper, Common sandpiper, adult Great Black-backed Gull went through with the other four common species , an influx of 50 Meadow Pipits, Chiffchaff still in plantation in addition to 10 Fallow and 6 Roe Deer!
On Monday evening I called past the gravel pits as I headed to Evesham on the hope of seeing the Barn Owl. Passing one of pit signs I picked up a Little Owl on the corner which then took flight. When heading back on the same route two hours later I picked up two Little Owls sat on top of the hedge looking straight back at us in the car. Whilst one of the birds flushed the other one stared back at us allowing me to take a very rough photograph through the windscreen. Very encouraging sighting given none of us had seen a Little Owl since November. As it was a pair we can hope they have found a new home and will breed this spring.
From there we headed down to Pophills were our timing was perfect as the Barn Owl came out of the field to cross the road and then flew right past us and then back across into the Pophills field. As we headed home the bird treated us to another fly past.
A very good start to March.
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