Lovely day weatherwise but its a Sunday and that brings the problem of where to go birding.
Its a nightmare with Sunday-drivers in their "chelsea tractors" and motorbikers using country lanes as racing track. I decided to go up Stocks reservoir and Champion moor but by the looks of it....so did everyone else!!! Kids running around screaming, ramblers in groups of 20 that you can hear coming 2 miles away, and my personal favorite....the ubiquitous couple that drive out to the countryside to sit in the car park with the engine running, radio on, chain smoking and arguing!!!!! Theres one in every quiet spot, every Sunday!!!! WHY DON'T THEY JUST STAY HOME????
And why do some find it necessary to put on their Sunday best, plaster themselves with make-up and drown themselves in perfume, to take a walk in the country????
Wish it was raining so at least it'd be quiet and I'd get some peace.

Glad I got that off my chest.

On the upside more signs of spring. The frogs are getting vocal up stocks but not in our garden yet.
Didnt see the Mergansers on stocks or the short eared owls on Champion.
Also met a nice couple from Bolton RSPB who had just seen a Stoat still wearing full white ermine.

Heres the full list of the day

Champion moor
circa 45 lapwing on floodpool
kestrel
starling
wren
meadow pipit
stonechat 1m
little owl



















Heres the little owl at Shays barn

Stocks Feeding station
brambling 1 male
chaffinch
greenfinch
great tit
blue tit

On reservoir
mallard
teal
tufted duck
pintail - circa 10
goldeneye -1 pr
wigeon - 3
pochard - min 15
canada goose - min 50
greylag goose - min 30
barnacle goose 1
cormorant min 15
coot
GBB gull - 3 ad 2 juv
bh gull
lapwing - min 25
oystercatcher 3

Also
GS woodpecker - drumming
robin
dunnock
blackbird
song thrush
mistle thrush
woodpigeon
jackdaw
carrion crow
magpie
house sparrow

40 species total

Oh...and a dead badger by the road at Downham.