Local patch

An hour's wander round the local patch and what a difference the wind not blowing a hooley makes!

A mixed tit flock working its way through the Lombardy poplars by the old Old Hall footpath included four goldcrests and a treecreeper. Trying to photograph goldcrests in uncertain light and drizzle is one of the more unrewarding pastimes and I got a few blurry pictures of empty branches encased in gloom.

Aside from blackbirds we're still very thin on Winter thrushes so far. Good news were the group of greenfinches in one of the bramble patches and the flock of a couple of dozen goldfinches in the alders by the car parts depot.

Pigeons — feral pigeons and woodpigeons — continue to be scarce this month. After reviewing this year's sightings I've come to the conclusion we've lost our resident buzzard. Odd ones float over every so often but they're new bords.

Black-headed Gull   1
Blackbird   17
Blue Tit   8
Carrion Crow   1
Chaffinch   1
Common Gull   5
Dunnock   2
Feral Pigeon   2
Goldcrest   4
Goldfinch   26
Great Tit   5
Greenfinch   6
House Sparrow   3
Jay   1
Lesser Black-backed Gull   5
Long-tailed Tit   4
Magpie   10
Robin   4
Starling   8
Treecreeper   1
Woodpigeon   1
Wren   2