Late afternoon 9th Jan.

Part of the Gull flock.

                                                            

This was taken Saturday after the blow and shows some of the view

                             

After watching Liverpool get beaten, I decided to console myself with a visit to the patch. Again thrushes were the most prevalent as I walked across the car park. On the edge of one the flocks going over was a Snipe, any wader type bird here is always noteworthy! 5 Linnets wheeled around the vegetable garden and a Sparrowhawk flew through. Once again I positioned myself to take in the view across the valley to see what might be heading to roost, I don't do this alot and had forgotten how many gulls passover in the winter on their way maybe to Bewl Water?? A few small mixed flocks of Black heads and Common started heading over soon after I arrived and were followed by a couple of flocks of over 100 then one flock over 200, in all 500+ Gulls headed west in less than half an hour! probably 90% Common, also during this time larger gulls were heading south? around 25 Herring and 8 Great Black Backed, the latter the most I've seen here in one flock, a Goldcrest called on and off from behind me as I watched the gulls. A total of 41 species were recorded in a little over an hour. I had a text from Stephen on Saturday to say he possibly had 2 Ravens over and was 90% sure, so I'll keep an eye out, he also had two Little Owls duetting this morning (9th).