Tuesday 19 April 2011

Harrier, Waxwings and another Gropper

Marsh Harrier

On Saturday, Canons was graced by another Grasshopper Warbler and early that morning Eagle and I enjoyed a flock of about twenty five Waxwings that stopped off briefly in Canons Wood. Sunday saw Roy finally connect with the latter, his most wanted patch tick, when what was presumably the same flocked had swelled to about sixty five showy birds.

Waxwings on Sunday

Monday was pretty dull and today (which was spent in the company of Polo, Lord Holmesdale, Eagle and Drax) looked like it was going to turn out to be another duffer - save a Lesser Whitethroat, not an easy bird at CFBW - until, when walking up the lane, Eagle pointed out a raptor drifting across. I got onto it and gave the eloquent verdict 'That's a f***ing Marsh Harrier!' Marsh Harrier has been at or near the top of my list of expected patch ticks for a long time and it felt so good to bag one - the first record for CFBW. Woohoo! Hen and Marsh ticked for the patch, just Monty's and Pallid to go. MH is also a Surrey tick for me.

Canons Farm & Banstead Woods Life List: 104
Canons Farm & Banstead Woods Year List 2011: 87
(73 at this point last year)