SUNDAY 18th January - Jon Lloyd

A much better start to the day. Bright start after a cold night and severe frost that took most of the morning to clear. The pools frozen again today so I didn't bother to go down to the hide.

The eastern fields were interesting. The wildflower meadow still brings in large numbers of birds. Big groups of Goldfinch this morning swirling round and then dropping to the ground with a flash of yellow, disappear from view even in this very short vegetation. Also feeding here groups of male and female Chaffinch and a good flock of Yellow Hammer. A flock of mixed Redwing and Fieldfare were sitting on the tips of the near hawthorns, much like baubles on a Christmas tree. I daunt know what had set them up here but obviously the danger had passed and they drifted down in fours and fives to settle on the far side of this field. There were groups of Blackbirds in and out of the hedge on this side of the field and I spotted a Mistle Thrush up straight surveying the view from the top of a mole hill.

The Little Owl sat out on a fence post and became quite vocal when a couple of Buzzards dashed past. They seem busy! Ah yes, looks like the remains of a Swan or Canadian Goose at the far end of the pool. Enough to keep them happy. It was lying in long grass and rushes so I couldnt really get a fix on it.

Found three Coal Tits today in the Alders alongside the Strine Pipe. They were too busy to notice me, swinging upside down to search the cones and giving those familiar plaintive contact calls.

No Skylarks or Meadow Pipits this morning again but I did find two Greater Spotted Woodpeckers on the farm and watched Goldcrest and Treecreeper feeding amongst the braches of the trees in the Hawthorn paddock.