Returning Redwing

Setting out at sunrise, good numbers of Woodpigeon were going over the Pit Tip Top, roughly 500 birds. At Dawson's Corner, I was happy to see the return of last winter's Redwing flock, with around ten birds in the trees that back onto Farmer Fox's Cow Field. Along the Sustrans path a singing male Song Thrush was in the same spot as last year, and another was singing just over the footbridge to the Mill Lakes.

An adult Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage was near the Vehicle Bridge, and a female and one other Bullfinch was in the trees on the bank of the lake to the north of the Peninsula. Small numbers of Teal were about, and around 25 Pochard were spread from one end of the lake to the other. There also seemed to be a good helping of Tufted Duck about today.

I met up with Norman, but the others weren't about. The Greylag Goose flock numbered 36, and congregated on and around Mud Island, which included three pale hybrid-type birds. Just two Common Snipe were seen on the far bank, but Mud Island had been cleared of most of the vegetation and there really wasn't any cover.

We headed up to the Leen Pastures and caught onto a flock of 20-30 Golden Plover that flew west over the ride. Two Willow Tit were calling and feeding on peanuts at the Feeding Station - my first of the year. Heading back to the Woodland we were on the lookout for Yellowhammer and Meadow Pipit, but without luck. Two House Sparrow were mating on the roof of a house in Bestwood Village, though!

We finished off in the woods around the Triangle and the Three Ponds. Two Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard drumming around here, and small numbers of Goldcrest were in the yews, including one feeding so close to us we could see it amazingly well without the bins - a shame I hadn't had the camera out. Two Nuthatch were in the area, and a group of Chaffinch and Siskin were also around the ponds. Heading back, I got some brief views of a Treecreeper on one of the larger trees to end the morning.