Our walk in glorious sunshine with a crisp cold snap to the icy easterly wind.
Walking along Moorditch Lane and 4 Lesser Redpoll were with a small group of Linnet.
The herd of 23 Whooper Swan were again in the fields by the ramp track between No.4 & No.6 tanks off Lordship Lane. A little further 15 Mute Swan were a separate herd.
At a sunny spot were 4 Common Chiffchaff fly catching from an elder bush and European Stonechat from their preferred perches.
A look to the north produced 7 Barnacle, c2500 Canada & c2000 Pink-footed Goose with a Great Egret hiding in the grassy marsh. A Western Marsh Harrier flew over head to fly around one of the tanks.
Ducks were thin on the ground…or water with both frozen over. A small cluster of Eurasian Teal and Northern Shoveler were doing their best to keep one spot of water on No.6 tank free of ice.
The fields of No.5 tank had flocks of both Northern Lapwing and c300 European Golden Plover containing svereal begining their moult into breeding plumage and the lapwing were in the act of their tumberling display flight.
Observers: JS & WSM (images 1-2 & 5-6).
Image 3 by Steve Ingleby and image 4 by Gary Worthington.
