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Sunday 6 February 2011

Windy Emberton

This wind really isn't good for birding.
Trying to think of somewhere that was perhaps a little sheltered, I opted for a walk around Emberton Park today.
 The sailing lake seems to have become quite a popular winter hangout for Goosanders in the last couple of years and today's total of 22 birds was the most I have seen there, although there has been a recent report of 33 ! A small flock of Tufted Duck and a few Mallard were about the only other birds on this water.
 The local Canada Geese were seen over the river on Olney Meadows and numbered about 100. The Todd's Canada was with them as well as a couple of domestic/farmyard types, also 4 Greylags and one attractive bird that in every aspect is a Greylag, but is a beautiful buff-white colour.
 On the main lake a small group of Pochard and a pair of Wigeon consorted with the bread dependant Mallard flock.
 Spring was definitely in the air, as Canada Geese occupied every available island spit with a view to nesting, and pairs of Great-spotted Woodpeckers, Long-tailed Tits and Mallards were getting very friendly.
 A Kingfisher was a good spot in the branches of a tree over the small lake closest to Olney. 

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