One for Sorrow

After a thirteen year break, I am back on the listing game. As far as I am concerned though, this is an entirely admirable and green one. Three square kilometres all within an easy cycle of the front door. The Patchwork Challenge was duly accepted in Stutton and after a late New Year's Eve night, I was out the door on the bike at 7.30. Two years ago on New Year's Day I had gone round the village and amassed 76 species - surely with a more concerted effort this time around I was going to stroll in to 80+ territory?

There were several birds in the patch that needed targeting as there was no guarantee they would be around in the future. My plan was to work the parts of Alton Water that lie within the Stutton parish boundary first - which fortunately includes the hides in Larch Wood; then down to Stutton Ness for Slavonian Grebes (the best site for this species in eastern England don't you know) and then finish off at Stutton Mill for the high tide wader roost and the possibility of an owl or two.

There was a bite in the wind, but the sky was clear and so, unfortunately, was the Dam end of the reservoir where I was hoping to see the majestic Great Northern Diver that had been around for a week or so. Recompense came with a Pink-footed Goose that flew in with the Greylag flock. My only other village pink-foot was on NYD two years ago. On that day, I also had a female Ruddy Duck - I haven't seen one since.

Passing the cafe, there was no sign of any Waxwings that had been around on Christmas Eve, but some welcome wheezy notes allowed me to tick off Brambling. A potentially tricky bird for such a compact patch.

Next stop was the hides for the four Smew that had been frequenting Larchwood Bay. They weren't around either - maybe there were in conference with the diver somewhere? By the time I left the hides at 9.15 I was up to 45 species and things seemed promising. A quick stop at my Uncle's house added Tree Sparrow and Lesser Redpoll. House Sparrow came after and was my 51st species. What a sorry state of affairs I thought.

After a quick family stop off, I was out the door ready for Stutton Ness when I got a text to say that the diver had appeared back at the dam. So off I went. (patchchallenge)Tick!

I didn't reach Stutton Ness until Midday and the Slavonian Grebes took an age to appear. The chop on the water didn't help and the low, strong, winter sunshine also inhibiting viewing. That's my excuse for not seeing Shag or Long-tailed Duck anyway. One day I will get to Stutton Ness and see Shorelark or Snow Bunting, but New Year's Day there is a veritable Piccadilly Circus. A Rock Pipit obliged by dropping in for number 70.

Most 'daylist' days, have their blackspots and mine, regrettably, was Stutton Mill. By the time I was there just after 2pm the wind was stronger still and the tide was very high. Poor judgement on my part. I was only able to add a measly four waders, but Bar-wit, Avovet and Pintail all eluded me. So what next? I decided to hack it up the hill and back to the hides to see if the Smew had reappeared. A strip of game cover en-route enabled me to add Reed Bunting for 75, but I was still shy of Grey Heron, Fieldfare, Stock Dove, Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Canada Goose and Magpie! Why, oh why should I be getting upset about seeing a Magpie? For the second time, the hides drew a Smew-blank and I was left with a last desperate look for the Waxwings around the now much-busier car park. No joy, but I did see a Magpie.