Siskins are In

A couple of Meadow Pipit were all that was to be seen on the Pit Tip Top at dawn. Arriving at the Mill Lakes I headed down to the Vehicle Bridge just behind Norman, who helpfully pointed out several singles, twos, and threes of Siskin feeding in the alders along the path to the Peninsula. Three Cormorant were on and around Tern Island, and a single Little Grebe was just south of the Peninsula. Good numbers of Teal were all around the lake, and three or more Shoveler were also present near the Greylag Island.

We met up with Ralph, and a single Mistle Thrush was in a tree by main entrance. There was another thrush too - a smaller one - possibly a Redwing, but too distant to clinch an ID. We headed out onto the Peninsula to look for Common Snipe; a couple were on the far bank and one on Mud Island, but Norman got us onto the Water Rail walking along the water's edge of the north west bank. Julie arrived and we examined the gulls. Two Common Gull were on the water amongst sixty plus Black-headed Gull, and a flock of fifteen Goldfinch went over to the far side of the lake.

As we walked around clockwise, a male Kestrel was perched in the trees backing on to the Dipping Ponds, and two Grey Heron were together in trees on one of the islands. There were still no geese to be seen. A distant Sparrowhawk was being mobbed by a crow over the lake, and the Pochard group at the south west side numbered seventeen - a personal highest count.

Heading up to the Leen Pastures a single Lesser Black-backed Gull went over, as did a Grey Wagtail. We'd heard a Willow Tit near the Peninsula earlier, but had good views of one on the feeding station.

There were good numbers of Blackbird, feeding on the ground around the edges of Broad Valley Stables' Horse Paddock, and another male Kestrel was on a fence post by the entrance to Bestwood Quarry. I chatted to the rangers for a bit, who'd been seeing off some rouge paintballers from the quarry, and got a nice male Bullfinch there too. On my way out of the park, a single Goldcrest was in a yew at back of Warren Hill. In all, a good morning that produced a respectable total of 41 species, and added a relatively easy patch tick in the form of the Siskin.