20th Dec - A misty/foggy start, clearing slowly, broken cloud afternoon, light SE/S/7C

 Shawell Sandpit/landfill; morning

A new bird for the year, a female Goldeneye.  Not a regular bird here, a couple last year, then none the previous two years at least.

Also, 3 each Wigeon and Pochard, 29 Gadwall. plus Tufted, Teal and Mallard.

A few Little Grebes, plenty Coots and 3 Moorhens.

Only a couple of Red Kites spotted, but the misty conditions probably meant they weren't flying.

Walton and Foxton; Afternoon

Checked these two villages for House Sparrows.

In Walton I found some in the hedge along Park Lane. Three or so were showing/calling occasionally, but with the Thermal camera I could see a total of 14!  Two more were found along a High street garden hedge.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker was also present.

In Foxton, I found 4 in the garden-field hedge at the corner of Langton road, and a further 4 along the Main Street about 100m away from the others.   Also, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a singing Collared Dove.