A weekend for once where I actually saw the sun! A visit Saturday morning from first light until 10:30am produced 93 Mute Swan, 6 Mallard, 4 Stock Dove, 66 Woodpigeon, 11 Moorhen, 21 Black headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 413 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 41 Rook, 1 Raven, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Long tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest and 1 Mistle Thrush. The highlight of the morning was finding a male Hawfinch (68) in trees around Chislet Churchyard. I have looked here a few times over the winter but never really thought I would get one, so was very surprised when I picked out a bird on the top of a tree with a huge bill! It stayed on the tree for a few minutes where a few distant shots were taken before flying down into the trees and out of sight.
Also seen were 4 Song thrush, 2 Redwing, 15 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, 6 Meadow Pipit, 12 Chaffinch, 1 Linnet (69) and 1 Goldfinch.
With a nice sunny still evening, I returned to Chislet Marshes and spent an hour or so with the scope looking over the area. Birds noted included 1 Greylag Goose, 12 Mute Swan, 5 Mallard, 2 Pheasant, 2 Stock Dove, 343 Cormorant, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 ring-tail Hen Harrier (70) towards Grove Ferry, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 130 Rook, 5 Long tailed Tit and 5 Fieldfare.
A walk around the area this morning in initially frosty conditions was very nice before the clouds rolled in and the wind soon picked up. Birds noted included 97 Mute Swan, 2 Gadwall, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Snipe, 29 Black headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 40 Herring Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Owl (71) calling in the dark, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kesrel, 1 Peregrine, 37 Rook, 2 Raven, 1 Skylark, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Long tailed Tit, 2 Mistle Thrush, 5 Fieldfare, 5 Stonechat, 12 Meadow Pipit, 7 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch and 4 Reed Bunting. 'Nocmig' recording Saturday night produced a calling Little Owl, Moorhen and a Skylark. I might be able to get the recorder out in the week if the weather allows but otherwise, it looks like January will end on 71 species which is the third best January total in the nine years of recording.
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