SUNDAY 28th December

Not a brilliant day weather wise, rather chilly and threatening snow again.

Pete Jordan - 34 Wigeon, 2 Cormorant, Raven, Bullfinch 2, Kestrel 2 , Teal, 300+, Linnet 20, Goldfinch 20,

The The flashed on the new land seem to be taking shape. They were full of water today and frozen. It will be interesting watching these develop over the next few years.

Monday 29th

Beautiful day for walking and getting rid of some of the Christmas excesses. I toured the Wealdmoors today and walked the drive and onto Wall Farm. There was plenty to see today. In the fields around Kinnersley there were a large number of Fieldfares feeding in the open fields with flocks of 50 or so. In amongst these were smaller groups of Redwing. It took a female Sparowhawk to draw my attention to the only Mistle Thrush of the day seen in the late afternoon, cackling loudly in disgust as the Sparrowhawk glided over the fields and gardens in its usual pose.

Large Groups of corvids climbed into the sky as I approached Wall farm, a flock of least 100 Jackdaws and plenty of Rooks.The Wall Farm hedges held the usual group of Blackbirds. Eight birds nearly all males dropped down from the hedge to feed in the field corner and jumped up again when disturbed. The pools were full of Teal which is fairly common unless the pool freezes which seems to a distinct possibility this week.

Also seen today: Barn Owl, Long tailed Tits, Snipe 2 and 3 Cormorant.

Tuesday 30th

Dropped down late afternoon for the last hour of light, hoping to catch the Barn Owl thats been seen alot lately and show it off to my son home from university. But no luck, in fact, one of quietest visits ever. The pools were frozen edge to edge and end to end. A Kestrel hunted in the bottom left of the wetland and aq Buzzard sat looking rather chilly on the branches of Hawthorn tot he right and not much in t he middle. We heard Mallard calling but no trace of the Water Rail that often moves into the stream in front of the hide when the pools are frozen.

Wednesday 31st

Thursday 1st January

Another fairly quiet day at the Wall. Still I had the priveledge of making the first entry in the hide log book!! The pools have thawed out and the afternoon brought squally weather. A small number of Teal have returned to the wetland and aournd 50 Mallard. Nothing very unusual today, Sparrowhawk still chasing Fieldfares, large flock of Rooks and Jackdaws, Buzzard and Reed Bunting.

Friday 2nd

Saturday 3rd