Sunday 2 November 2008 - Alvecote Pools SSSI - 02/11/2008

Sunday 2nd November 2008

Alvecote Pools SSSI

It was as dark, dank and cold as last week's South Wales estuary down at the patch this morning.  The birds on offer were of a similar standard too.  7 Shelduck were new in at Mill Pool.  Other wildfowl there included 46 Mute Swans, 98 Eurasian Wigeon, and 71 Tufted Duck.  Just a few Mallard and Eurasian Teal were present.  Along Laundry Lane there was a large flock of Redwing but unusually not a single Fieldfare was amongst them.  I then intended to head up to Belvide to see the 1st winter Purple Sandpiper that was present until I spotted that my tax disc had expired a few days ago.

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South View, Polesworth

Around the feeding station today there were at least 7 hungry Common Pheasants.  The female Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen again along with 2 Coal Tits, a male House Sparrow and 4 Bullfinch amongst the usual visitors.  With my air-rifle away having a new sight fitted the vermin were rife again with a Grey Squirrel and at least 3 Brown Rats knocking around.  One of the Rats is particularly large and aggressive and was seen to attack one of the female Pheasants and chase off the Squirrel.  It was probably the same one that attacked and killed a myxomatosis riddled Rabbit last week.  All unwanted mammals will be receiving 'lead Aspirins' pretty soon. 

Sunday 2 November 2008 - lead aspirin