Saturday, 31 December 2016

31st Dec - grey misty, clearing by midday, but dull, light SW, 8C

A look around Lutterworth country park this morning was quite interesting. A minimum of 12 Magpies were present together, chasing and making a lot of noise, possibly pairing up.  Greenfinch and Goldfinch were present near the road, and two Lesser Redpoll were in a tree near the brook for a short while.  A few Redwing and Fieldfare flew over, one Fieldfare was eating hips on the hedge.  Five Starlings were on the nearby house roofs, with a couple of Collared Doves.  Five Moorhens were on the pool.

This afternoon I had a short walk at Stanford reservoir.  Goosander were busy feeding, I counted 24, they were busy near the edge along which 6 Little Egret were prowling.  Plenty of the other usual duck were present, but new in were two pairs of Red-crested Pochard.  The Long-tailed duck was also busy feeding. I did not see it, but the Smew was also reported present still by another birder.

IN the bushes four Bullfinch were feeding along with a large Long-tailed Tit flock and Goldcrests.  A single Chiffchaff was also seen feeding along the water edge bushes.

Finally, to end the year, while scanning through the gathering Gulls, Pete Asher spotted what he thought was a Mediterranean Gull, sure enough it was a nice winter adult.  Then about 15Linnets came in to roost in the thicket.

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