13th December - Another wet day, rain all morning, dry afternoon, but cloudy, dull and misty, light SW breeze, 8C

First thing at the feed station, in the rain, there were six Pheasant, also present was a Nuthatch and Coal Tit.

After lunch I ventured to the local reservoir, it had stopped raining but still very dull and a mist was forming.  First stop was to explore the set aside and cover crop area near the inlet, I soon found my target, a Short-eared Owl.  It has been present for about a week and fortunately has remained in the same area, it can be watched easily from a path, I manged some record photos despite the poor light.

Also in the area were Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Redwings, Fieldfares and a Mistle thrush.

On the reservoir a single male Red-crested Pochard (quite pale back and flanks) was among the Coots.  Wigeon and Pochard numbers are quite low this year, maybe a reflection of the mild weather so far this winter.  Three Shoveler (2m, 1f), a single drake Teal, 30+ Gadwall and 10+ Goldeneye were present too.  Two Little grebes were showing well.  Two Water rail 'squealed' noisily from the reeds.

With the roving 15+ Long-tailed Tits were four Goldcrests, a Treecreeper and two Blue Tits.  A Green Woodpecker called distantly and a single Lesser Redpoll flew over towards the 'owl' field.