Saturday 06 November – RSPB Greylake Leader: Robert Hargreaves

Eight of us met in the car park at 10:00. We started with a walk up the south side to the screen. It was too windy for Bearded Tits but we heard a Chiffchaff and Sparrowhawk, saw Stonechat, Buzzard, Kestrel, and the first field had a few hundred Lapwings, a Great White Egret, Greenfinch and Linnet. At the screen there were flocks of birds far away, Redwing maybe or Chaffinches. Alan found a Cetti’s Warbler close in among the reeds, great excitement to see two. This small patch of reeds revealed three Stonechats, two Reed Buntings, three Chiffchaffs, Wrens and a Blue Tit. Seven Little Egrets flew past and finally a Marsh Harrier and three Snipe went over. Was that a Crossbill calling? Listening to sound tracks we realised it was a Redpoll. From the hides only a few ducks, Mallard, Gadwall and Wigeon were seen. We decided to go back and look for the Redpoll. No luck but Anne found a few winter thrushes in a tree, a Redwing and a few Fieldfares. But as we all took a look down a telescope we saw more birds flying about, and more and more. Something like 100 Redwings and 300 Fieldfares. Walking back we had Chaffinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker with lots of House Sparrows. After lunch we went to Catcott. Very quiet, a few Fieldfares and Starlings, a flock of Long-tailed Tits and a Marsh Harrier. 46 species. (Thanks to Rob for leading.) Robert Hargreaves