Sunday 14th December

Overcast but dry and warmer than of late. Noticeably few Cormorants, but quite a few Mute Swans. There were a lot of Mute Swan Movements throughout the morning with groups of 10+ arriving and departing, maximum number seen was 32 which included the resident pair and their youngsters. Along the main path a Water Rail was seen swimming along the edge of the lake and a Kingfisher flew from a Willow out towards the island. A Green Woodpecker was hammering on the nest box in the trees opposite the Beach. I met up with DK and asked if he had seen a Wigeon as I thought I had heard one call a couple of times. Within a few moments a male Wigeon flew over, followed shortly after by 17 Teal which had probably come up off Fenlake. There were also 12 Shoveler and a male Tufted duck on the main lake.

Around Fingers just a couple of Little Grebe, another male Tufted, a pair of Gadwall and up to 8 more Shoveler.

Along the Navigation Channel I had another Little Grebe and Treecreeper and Goldcrest. On Kingsmead there were at least 22 Moorhen along with a party of Canada Geese and a number of Wood Pigeon.

I headed back along the Woodland Walk and followed the Long Hedge back into the Finger Lakes complex, spotting another Goldcrest in the Long Hedge as I went.

A loop around the main lake resulted in several more Kingfisher sightings along the east and south sides and a party of 10+ Long Tailed Tits on Press Mead. Back at the VC 6 Pied Wagtails flew over heading for the Beefeater.

Fri 12th

Had a ringing session during the "warmer" part of the day. Ground remained frozen. 'Lilypads' iced over.
Birds seen - 2 Gt.Spots, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, 2 Fieldfare, several Mipits over, 1 Sky Lark & 1 Song Thrush.
Birds caught - Wren 2, Robin 3, Blackbird 3, LT Tit 3, Blue Tit 10, Gt. Tit 7.