19th Nov Sat - ground frost, sunny am clouding over pm, light W, 5C

A look at the local lake this morning produced all the usual birds, a single Wigeon was with the Mallards. A single Little Grebe was visible, no doubt others were in the reeds.  The Mute Swan family is still present, despite them practicing take-off the other week.  A couple of Jay called from the trees, and a small number of Redwing and Fieldfare were feeding on the bushes.

A look at Shawell lagoons after lunch was disappointing, someone had walked around the perimeter of the pools flushing most Gulls and other birds. Eventually a couple of Snipe came out of the reeds and fed on the mud. Two Wigeon and three Little Grebe were on the south pool and a Green Woodpecker fed on the bank.

The neighbouring small pool held 45+ Teal and 4 Shoveler,

I decided to go and see if the Hen Harrier could be seen near Stanford reservoir, again it seemed generally quite in the area.  Although on the bird/game plot about 30 Tree Sparrows were feeding together with Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, on the cultivated field a small flock of Linnet and about 30 Lapwing were feeding.  Waiting until late small flocks of Starling headed west to their roost site and Gulls over to their roost on the reservoir.  Unfortunately the Hen Harrier was not seen.