Sunday December 21

The shortest day began cloudy and gloomy with a moderate south-westerly breeze. My camera has been restored to me so I was keen to use it. Dave joined me and we wandered around with realistic expectations given how rubbish its been lately.

From that standpoint we had an ok morning. The pair of Stonechats was still present, and a Redpoll called as it flew over. The flashes remained poor, just 12 Teal, while 70 Lapwings were circling high overhead. Things picked up as we walked along the back hedge. It was clear that there was a decent sized thrush flock, and we estimated 100 Redwings, 60 Fieldfares, a Mistle Thrush, and about 10 Starlings.

The one that got away was a possible Chiffchaff we heard calling somewhere along the hedge. We eventually saw a Goldcrest, but were unable to confirm our suspicions. As well as the thrushes there were a lot of finches here, feeding on the dead heads of flowering crops. We estimated 50 Goldfinches and 30 Chaffinches, and then the bird of the day, a female Siskin, which called before landing in an ash. I went for the camera but the bird flew before I could add it to the photo year-list. This was only my second record this autumn.

The remainder of the walk was pretty quiet apart from another sighting of the Peregrine, and a pterodactyl which flew over.

Well ok, it was a Grey Heron.