Like Buses!!

After yesterdays, I would say wash-out but wind-out would be more appropriate! I set off this morning with high hopes as it was calmish, sunny and really nice to be out. A Collared Dove was calling and there were a couple of Goldcrests in the car park. A Siskin flew over and a couple of Mistle Thushes were singing as again the lake beckoned, once again it was nearly devoid of waterbirds, 3 Moorhen and that was it even the Mallard had deserted! A Bullfinch posed briefly and I may have got a poor photo, Long Tailed Tits were again evident round the lake. I made my way into the wood and found a couple of Coal Tits that were accompanied by my first CHIFFCHAFF (74) of the year, normally I hear them singing first but this one was busily flying round bits of honeysuckle and birch trees and didn't utter a single phrase. Moving on I came across Marsh Tits, Treecreepers a small group of Redwings in the wood and several drumming woodpeckers.
On leaving the wood a couple of Mallard were in the small ponds dug a couple years ago and 2 Greylags flew south, then the second year tick of the morning flew along the stream a GREY WAGTAIL (75), two new birds in a morning, I was pleasantly surprised. Following the stream along the edge of the fields a couple Yellowhammers were again singing about 6 Fieldfares flew up into the alders, I scanned the hedgerows and found my third new bird of the morning a STONECHAT (76), I tried to get photos and was again struggling with spot focus on my little Panasonic but what a nice way to end the walk, 2 Canada Geese did fly over while I was watching the Stonechat. That made 47 species today compared to yesterdays 28!!

An obliging Yellowhammer

Finally got a shot of sorts!