The Return...............

............not that I have been anywhere...other than busy and not getting to the pits.  A few things have taken up time and energy so no time to visit the pits till today.  Im also still trying to sort out an orchard to do some winter thrush ringing which is proving rather tedious....still....more of that hopefully when I have set up and ringing some birds....though a few have been ringed over in the garden....

Cool, or cold?,  F2 W turning to WSW later, little cloud though building to 40%, warm later in the sun

I set my alarm for 5.30am....I awoke just before it was due to go off and realising it was still quite dark I attempted to adjust it for 6am.  This failed.  It went off at 5.50am for some reason though I then slept till 6.20am having managed to reset it earlier for 6.30am.  Obviously a month out of the saddle has put my early morning clock all over the place as well as my brain cells....

A Blackbird alarm was the first bird when I was booting up soon followed by Crow and House Sparrow, by which time I had set off across the orchard hoping to hear the familiar rattle of a winter visitor....to no avail here....however, Goldcrest, Collared Dove, Wren and 2 Kestrels appeared.  A flock of 40 Woodpigeon headed W, the first of many flocks, most of which were smaller, totalling around 200.

Reaching the pits another Kestrel appeared and 2 Fieldfare went over W (a few more were around totalling 8 or so).....

Coot 130, Moorhen 7, Little Grebe 4, Tufted Duck 21, Great Crested Grebe 7, Black Headed Gull 49 (though they were very flighty so possibly more), Mute Swan 16, Mallard 10, Shoveller 6, Gadwall 21, Cormorant 8, Wigeon 40+, Great Black Back Gull 2.

At the pits I came across this flower....

Common Chickweed

Apparently this is one of the most 'succesful weeds' in the world.  Im not really a fan of the term 'weed' as it seems to describe some great flowers/plants as far as im concerned.  Maybe this isnt one of them, though perhaps it needs to be admired for its persistence and success then!

Other birds around the pits included Magpie, Jay, Great tit, Long Tail Tit, Blue Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Grey Heron, Dunnock.

Just about to leave the pits I came across a small flock of Blue Tits, but with them was a flock of 9 Blackbirds together.

Walking back across the fields I found this.....

I cant figure out what it is...if you know...let me know...!

Lots of the 'normal' attendees missing but it was only a 2 hour visit.  Hopefully a full visit next time.