Cold...but colourful....!

0930-1200, northerly wind, sunny/cloudy/bright - cold.

Almost winter like conditions today though have been hoping for a few frosts to harden up the ground and bring a few birds in to the orchard.
Set off from the car parked in Five Oak Green having just had a flock of aoound 50 Fieldfare overhead when driving in to the village.  House Sparrow, Blackbird and both Great and Blue Tit appeared immediately with Collared Dove.  A few Starlings were scattered along some roof tops as usual.
I started walking across Moat Farm where a Robin was tick-tick-ticking, a Magpie called in the distance.  The orchard was very quiet indeed, just a Crow and a Chaffinch to report here.  Still, I suppose no bird in its right mind would be sitting in the orchard when the open fields can be attacked for food thanks to the lack of frosts.
As I reached the open fields just north of Moat Farm I finally located some Fieldfares, about 80, in the western field.  I could only find 2 Redwing but around 12 Skylark were mixed in with the flock.  As I crossed the field 8 Herring Gull flew over followed by a Green Woodpecker, Jackdaw and Wood Pigeon.
When I reached the far side of the bigger fields, there is one smaller field to cross before Whetsted Pits come in to view.  It was pleasing to see a flock of around 30 Skylark here, having left the other dozen behind across the fields.  Along a tree/hedge lined ditch 3 Bullfinch were resting, the males gleaming in the sunshine.  A group of 8 Bullfinch were found nearby. 2 Song Thrush appeared and were content along this hedgerow as they were still present on my return.  2 Meadow Pipits were heard here as well.
On the first pit I came across had 43 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Gadwall.  A Goldfinch flew over followed by 19 Greylag Geese.
A Wren was obligingly sitting in the sun out of the wind as I walked to the next pit.  Here I found 50+ Black Headed Gulls with 2 Common Gull.  2 Kingfishers were in attendance, one posing very nicely on the far bank...bright, bright orange flashing azure blue as it took to the wing.  Another 10 Tufted Duck were here with 2 Mute Swan whilst another 2 flew overhead plus 36 Cormorant.
In the distance the interesting sight of a mixed Corvid/Pigeon flock took to the air, numbering around 150 - 175 birds, Rooks, Crows, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, though nothing seemed to have spooked them.  This behaviour was repeated a little while later.
Corvid numbers were certainly down on last week though reasonable numbers were present at the far end of the eastern field viewed from the gravel pit area.
A Jay appeared flying over the next pit.  45 Teal were present with 34 Gadwall, a Great Crested Grebe, 15 Pochard, another 21 Tufted Duck, 5 Shoveller, 1 Goldeneye and 1 Little Egret.  There was then a flash or white belly as a wader flew past.  I managed to re-locate it a couple of minutes later and was pleased to see it was a Green Sandpiper.
As I turned for the return journey 50+ Lapwing were airbourne.
The return journey was fairly uneventful.  The Skylark had by now spread out quite considerably across the fields with two singing continually - Spring is surely sprung!
As I reached the beginning of the orchard a Mistle Thrush obliged in the ploughed field.  Seems to be a sure spot for it.