Tuesday 17 December – Newton St. Loe Leaders: Duncan & Pat Gill

A thirty strong group of Tuesday walkers met with a few grumbles about the rain which, according to virtually allforecasts, should have been falling farther to the east for this pre-Christmas lunch walk. The rain continued to all for the first hour of the walk but in spite of it those with water defying binoculars and wipers on their specs’ managed to add Long tailed, Blue and Great Tits, Goldfinch, Jay, Redwing and Reed Bunting to our list. Although the walk was shorter than usual, we still had a coffee break in the Temple above the lake, en route to which some caught sight of a Kingfisher. The lone Whooper Swan, four Grey Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Teal, Cormorant and Greenfinch all put in an appearance and Goldcrest were heard. On the return journey Nuthatch, Song and Mistle Thrush, Rook, Buzzard, Coal Tit, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Black-headed, Herring and one Great Black-backed Gull brought our total to 39 species. Many thanks to Duncan and Pat for leading and getting us back at exactly the right time – though we did find some non-walkers had beaten us to the table. Nancy Barrett