`Fri 19th

A cold (2 degC) and misty morning with the river in flood. 13 GCG fishing at the north end of the lake where there wasn't any "rising steam" but moved down towards the beach as the mist subsided. Wigeon and Gadwall stayed in "the steam". Small parties of Jackdaw moving west, too late to be our roosting birds which leave at sun-up or earlier. At least half a dozen Fieldfare this morning, chacking in the hawthorns. Just 2 Shoveler on "lilypads, which was dark and dismal as the sun hadn't reached it yet. However, in the shallow, reedy end there were 4 Little Grebe. A lone Siskin flew about calling before it settled along the main path. The first Sky Larks began moving west at 9am. A Chiff was calling from the main lake side of the "rough", and a family party of Bullfinch was feeding in the willows, etc between the beach and the Kramer hide. A Mistle Thrush passed over north.