Monday December 14

 The usual Sunday morning slog having been cancelled due to rain and wimpishness, I gave it a go in bright sunshine this morning. It is now very mild and there was a moderate south-westerly breeze. 

Actually I'm not all that fond of bright winter sunshine (there's just no pleasing some people), its fine if the sun is behind you on the walk to the flash field, but blinding on the walk back.

It was pretty quiet, so hard work trying to pick out any gems. I like seeing numbers of Starlings here in the winter. My count of 133 with a mixture of small flocks (counted) and a larger group at the flash field (estimated).

Starlings

An impression of the flock

Obviously this isn't the murmuration so popular with TV wildlife programmes, and they certainly won't be roosting here. Maybe Redditch town centre may be worth a look at dusk.

Actually the flash field was pretty good. I counted three Cormorants (in the usual tree), two Grey Herons, 40 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 46 Mallard, nine Shovelers, four Lapwings, and three visible Snipe.

Meadow Pipit

Small birds were thin on the ground; a handful of Meadow Pipits, 32 Goldfinches, 42 Redwings, 16 Fieldfares, and two Stonechats were about typical for December.

The morning's highlight came over the ridge field, where a Peregrine appeared overhead and seemed to be hunting, managing a brief stoop before disappearing from view.

Peregrine

I was pleased to get a shot of it, although the bright sunshine left it rather backlit. 

All in all, not too bad a morning.