Movement

I had a successful early morning visit to West Hartford and Arcot Pond this morning. Whilst out and about on the patch yesterday there was a light northerly passage of Siskin and Skylark, which were also on the move today as I walked to WH.


I saw the Short Eared Owl for the first time this year at WH as I arrived, it then sat on the fence outside the fire station. A few Crossbill were in the plantation behind the substation before flying off. The strangest site of the morning were 5 Cormorants, which flew south together over the substation. One appeared by itself later and circled the pools but never landed.
The pools held around 60 Teal, a lone LBB Gull, 1 Oystercatcher and a Shelduck. A Moorhen called form the reeds, 4 Roe Deer were feeding together behind the main pool and a Stock Dove flew east.

After alerting Liverbirder to the Hartford activity he kindly dropped me off at Arcot Pond. It is still nice to see the pond alive with wildfowl but there was no sign of yesterdays Pintail pair.
Still the pond held 2 female Goldeneye, a pair of Pochard, 1 drake Goosander, Wigeon, 20 Tufted Duck, 3 Canada Geese, 2 Gadwall and 2 Cormorant.

The walk home was quiet. No sign of the Little Owl along Beacon Lane but at least 6 Yellowhammer on the lane and 60+ Siskin feeding on Alder at Beaconhill play area.

The only birds of note at Bassington NR were a grey Heron and a GS Woodpecker.