Nine of us turned up in defiance of the forecast and set off along Sandy Lane. Not a single bird was seen or heard for the first half mile or so, before a couple of distant Crows and a Woodpigeon, then sounds of Blackbird, Robin and Blue Tit were noted. Soon after crossing Markham Brook we joined a stony track into East Tanpit Wood. Calls of Great Tit and Nuthatch were somehow filtered out of the wind noise but sightings remained elusive. At the top of this track reward finally came in the form of four Redwings in the trees immediately above us. Our leader decided to avoid a well-known mud slide and the diversion took us down to a small pond, an ideal coffee stop. Emerging into more open country, we saw a Greenfinch and heard Goldfinches overhead. From the edge of a field of horses the twitter of Pied Wagtail was picked up and 40+ Starlings lined up on wires some way off. Another Pied Wagtail bounced across the adjoining sheep field and a Skylark ascended. By now we were quite keen to get out of Upper and back to Lower Failand. The rain was a bit less persistent than expected but the wind never let up. The species count of 16 doesn’t do justice to this very enjoyable and normally much more productive walk. Many thanks to Alan for leading and finding the best possible way round.Colin Hawkins