25th October - Calm, high cloud with sunny spells later, feeling mild 11C

During the afternoon made a visit to the local reservoir, a hawking Dragonfly and a single butterfly (too distant to identify) indicated how calm and mild the weather felt.

The winter Wigeon flock has now grown to about 100, the Tufted Duck are about 200 and Gadwall at 22 today.  Seven Red-crested Pochard were also present, diving for weed, these may well stay for the winter. The Greylag Goose flock stands at about 175, hopefully this will pull in some other geese species as winter progresses.  Cormorants were present, with numbers increasing to 34 at roost time.

A Snipe flew up from the neighbouring field, whilst seven Stock Doves fed on the stubble.  Two Kingfishers were zipping about, both Grey and Pied Wagtails were around the dam area.  Several Long-tailed Tit flocks were roaming with them several Goldcrest and one Chiffchaff was present.  A Coal Tit and at least 15 Tree Sparrows were at the feed station.

Winter thrush numbers are increasing steadily now, there was at least 70 Redwings and 150 Fieldfare feeding on the hedge berries.  Also making the most of the Haws were two Grey Squirrels.

There were plenty of other birds species to see, in total I managed 54 different species.