Pleasant walk down the canal today. Went to Mildenham Bridge and back (Salwarpe). Had
Goldfinch/Chaffinch
Lesser Redpoll
Dunnock
Robin
Wren
Song/Mistle Thrush
Grey Heron
Blackcap
Magpie/Jay
Reed Bunting
Fieldfare
Nuthatch
Redwing
Blue/Great/Coal/LT Tit
Mallard/Moorhen/Goosander
Pheasant/Red-legged Partridge
Hi Rob,
Where did you have your Goosander?
I've only seen this species around the confluence at Hawford so far this year but they do wander up the valley from time to time - seen twice around Salwarpe last year, for example. still a good bird on the patch. :t:
Flew up the canal from bridge no. 4! (Sorry, can't remember its name).
Walked the length of the canal down to the Severn and back today. I'd like to say it was a pleasant walk and on the whole I did enjoy it although on the way back I found myself in the middle of a shooting party. On the way down I'd heard about 3 shoots off to the left of the canal, but as I returned one was taking place in a field immediately to the right of the canal.
A lady with two dogs reassured me that they were shooting uphill, ie away from the canal. Yeah, as if. Whenever a flight of birds got past the line they'd turn round and shoot towards the canal. I heard many lead shot coming down into the vegetation. Luckily they weren't good shots and most birds escaped but I saw 5 pheasant and 1 partridge taken down.