Sunday 27 October

I arrived a bit late this morning to find that Dave had seen the Snow Goose flying over. As we chatted a Chiffchaff called from the copse by Netherstead Farm. However, near gale force westerly winds meant it was going to be a tough morning for seeing passerines. One or two Redpolls and Siskin called overhead, and a flock over 30 Fieldfares flew south, but we decided to head for the water bodies.

The main pool contained 171 Mallards, five Tufted Ducks, two Mute Swans and the Little Grebe. The flashes contained mostly Geese.

I counted 334 Greylag Geese, easily a record for the site (for me), and the single Snow Goose. By now the wind was very strong indeed so attempts to photograph it were hampered by camera shake.

The remaining wildfowl on the flashes were just the usual mix so we decided to try kicking up Skylarks in the hope of something more exciting among them.

We failed, and Dave, whose back was playing up, decided to throw in the towel. I went back to the flashes and managed better numbers of most things; 44 Teal, 210 Lapwings, 21 Snipe, five Wigeon, and two Green Sandpipers. But nothing new.