December 12th

Another bright morning, the first 3 birds that flew over were 3 REDWING, followed by a couple of FIELDFARE, numbers don't seem to be building as yet, I wonder if this is it for the winter thrushes here. It was nice to hear lots of single notes of CHAFFINCHES as they called from the various hedges. For the fourth or fifth time in a row BULLFINCHES called but remained unseen, I must get a look at one soon! A SISKIN called several times from behind the gardeners cottages and 5 LONG TAILED TITS appeared out of the half light in front of me as I walked towards the fields.

There were two notable absentees this morning, I didn't hear or see a single Redpoll and the Woodpigeon flocks that have been a feature of recent visits were nowhere to be seen, although there was the odd single silhouetted sitting in the poplars. A COMMON GULL flew south, later 2 BLACK HEADED GULLS went the same way but somewhat higher as 3 HERRING GULLS headed north. One YELLOWHAMMER called in the fields and 27 SKYLARK got up with a few MEADOW PIPITS and LINNETS as I strolled the field margins. The final couple of birds of note were a single REED BUNTING calling from 10 acre field and 2 CORMORANTS that circled a couple of times before disappearing behind the trees.