Cholsey marsh......not where they show you!

Sunny, 6º, light wind, getting colder.

Before starting just a note to BirdGuides, your Smartphone app is having interesting results. You obviously surf blogs etc and put the information on to your app regarding scarce birds, however “X” marks the spot appears to be misinterpreted by users. I assume the dot on the location marks the centre of the area i.e. Cholsey village and not where the bird has been seen as we have had a couple of incidences this week of people searching our local recreation ground (which is roughly the centre) for both Great Grey Shrike and Bittern and being up to two kilometres out!

Anyway.............

Another afternoon down at Cholsey marsh and a rather quiet one than of late, no sign of the Shrike or Bittern but a few Corn Bunting back at the roost around sixty plus came in this evening so maybe weather conditions can affect their roosting pattern?

Water Rail were very vocal at dusk and one seen to run across the flooded part of Ferry rd, two Egyptian Geese flew downstream and were heard a little later on the floods on the other side of the river with the Canada Geese and the “Greylag” types.

Several Great-spotted Woodpecker seen and a Green Woodpecker heard, Sparrowhawk over and approx eighty Lapwing in area, Kingfisher, Common Snipe and Teal all seen this morning.

A Red-breasted Merganser flew high upriver; don’t get many of them in Cholsey and the Barn Owl put in an appearance at dusk.

Forgotten from yesterday, several Grey Partridge heard calling last night at the marsh.

Some belated information of seven Waxwing seen in Crescent Way last week.

 The ubiquitous carrier bag, this one a Waitrose one hanging in a tree on the marsh, not a good place to advertise!