Sunday January 5

I was a bit late starting (again), and by the time I arrived Dave had already found the bird of the day. A Grey Wagtail was feeding at the edge of Paul's small pool and was viewable from the road.

Grey Wagtail

I should probably have tried to get a bit closer as all my shots were rather fuzzy. Dave had also had a poor view of a small-looking woodpecker flying towards Bannams Wood. Being commendably cautious he wouldn't commit to Lesser Spot, but its certainly worth bearing in mind.

Our walk around at least produced some gulls (completely absent on New Years Day. A party of seven Herring Gulls and four Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew west, and later a single Black-headed Gull circled over the flash field.

A large Peregrine (presumably female) flew over the nearest flash, unsettling the wildfowl. These comprised 117 Greylag Geese, two Canada Geese, 23 Mallard, and four Teal.

That was about it for us, but I've had an email from the ringers who were here yesterday and were very pleased with their efforts. Their highlight was the first Jack Snipe they had ever caught.

Jack Snipe in hand (Tony Kelly)

They caught 98 birds in all. Their totals were;
Jack Snipe 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Marsh Tit 1
Blue Tit 47 (20 retraps)
Great Tit 10 (7 retraps)
Long-tailed Tit 25 (16 retraps)
Blackbird 2
Song Thrush 2
Chaffinch 1
Lesser Redpoll 3
Goldfinch 4