Manton Warren And MSQ.....

Up bright and early today for some local birding again and i decided to do things a little different while visiting MSQ.
 I decided to park on the roadside between Greetwell and MSQ and walk onto Manton Warren and down to the sheep fields at the back of MSQ first,before visiting the reserve proper later,this is what i managed to see.
 It was pretty dull to start and as i got the gear together a Great-spotted Woodie drummed in the adjacent woodland and a Mistle Thrush sang nearby.After walking for a short while a couple of Roe Deer were seen distantly along the edge of some nearby woodland and a ghostly Barn Owl was watched hunting along a rough grass field.The Barn Owl gave stunning views eventually,but the light was dire so i didn't even bother with any attempts at photographing it.
 Further on and towards the Sheep fields at the back of the reserve,2 Common Buzzard,6 Avocet and 220 Golden Plover were logged and plenty of displaying from the local waders was a great sight to see and included a singing male Snipe.

Female Yellowhammer in the early morning gloom,Manton Warren.

Doe Roe Deer,Manton Warren.

Male Willow Tit,MSQ.

A splash of colour at MSQ.

Drake Red-crested Pochard,MSQ.

Mute Swan flyby,MSQ.

Gadwall pair,MSQ.

Adult Black-headed Gull,MSQ.

Black-headed Gull R&R,MSQ.

 The return walk back to the car saw some closer views of the 2 Roe Deer from earlier and some nice views of a pair of Yellowhammer brightened the gloom.
 After the short journey to the reserve i began by looking at the pools along the approach track and on Grebe lake where the first of 12 Chiffchaff were seen in the waterside bushes,an increase on my last visit.
 A quick look on the main lake revealed a nice surprise in the form of a smart drake Red-crested Pochard with the local Tuftie flock and nearby the male Cettis gave away his presence with a couple of explosive bursts of song.
 A prospecting pair of Willow Tit were watched at a potential nest site which was a very welcome sight with another single male seen later in another area of the reserve.
 Non bird sightings around the reserve included some Muntjac tracks,a hand full of Common Toads and a single male Smooth Newt seen in the pond in the plantation.
 A few wildflowers are finally beginning to burst through and included several clumps of Marsh Marigold brightening the ditches and dykes around the reserve.
 Finally,before travelling home,a quick visit to one of our heathland sites,revealed two lovely male Woodlark which gave a nice sight and sound and a superb end to a good mornings birding.