Tuesday 26 December -Snuff Mills Leader Nick Hawkridge

As the Song Thrush sang and the Jay foraged, we 14 set off along the usual route. A Moorhen on the river had found a refuge in the middle of the madly rushing water and up the first stretch were Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, the usual Blue and Great Tit all foraging among the trees and never stopping for a moment. A Nuthatch finally stopped long enough to be seen clearly before slipping away down the far side of his tree trunk. Our first and only winter thrushes in the shape of Redwings flew over as we came to Vassall’s Park and our coffee stop (thanks for the bikkies and sweets). Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were in the trees as we headed towards the river again but most special was a group of c20 Siskin feeding acrobatically in the Alder tops. Splashing through the mud, back along the river, we only really added the expected Mallard and Grey Wagtail. Sadly, Kingfisher and even Grey Heron were missing. It was all in all a lovely walk (32 species) and the first on a Tuesday for Emily F whom we were most glad to welcome. (Thanks to Nick for leading) Nick Hawkridge