Friday February 1

There was little sign of the dusting of overnight snow, but it was bitterly cold this morning.

Stonechat toughing it out

A closer view

Very few gulls flew over, but the first to do so was an adult Common Gull. Unfortunately by the time I had untangled the camera from the binoculars and removed my gloves it was giving less than ideal views as it started to circle.

Common Gull

This could easily be the only one I see here this year.

I decided to walk along the road to the south end, and was able to have a chat with Mike Lane, one of the few other birders who visits Morton Bagot. He photographs birds over the whole of the Heart of England Forest area and told me of a Goshawk sporting old jesses near Great Alne, several Woodcocks, and a small flock of Goosanders (at Middle Spernall Pools).

The flock of Chaffinches and Linnets remains at the south end, as did a flock of 150 Starlings and several Fieldfares, Redwings, and Pied Wagtails searching the pasture in the horse paddocks. A party of 50 Meadow Pipits meanwhile had moved to the longer grass between the barns and the barn conversions.

The north end, predictably enough, contained largely frozen water courses. A few Teal were, however, sitting it out by the furthest flash which was partly unfrozen.

Teal

A single Muntjac took a while to realise I was watching it as it munched on grass stalks.

The only beast from the east in evidence today.