Finch and Tit Flocks

This morning I headed to the Mill Lakes, seeing a Treecreeper in with a Long-tailed Tit flock at entrance gate by Dawson's Corner along the way, and five Fieldfare flew over to the west. On the lake, there were thirteen Greylag Goose and four Teal (two male and two female). A Sparrowhawk flew low over the north end of lake and down the path on far bank - it was later seen hunting above the entrance to the Peninsula. At least three Common Snipe were huddled together in vegetation on Mud Island. Three species of gull were seen: ten Black-headed Gull and a Common Gull on the water, and a juvenile Herring Gull drifted south over the Main Entrance. The finch flock at the Mill Lakes contained about five Goldfinch, thirty Siskin, and five Lesser Redpoll feeding in alders around the Peninsula.

Heading back, I counted 59 Starling in a flock in Bestwood Village opposite the Main Entrance to Mill Lakes. At least one Pied Wagtail was in Broad Valley Stables' Horse Paddock, and three Mistle Thrush were on the overhead wires. A Green Woodpecker flushed from the grassy verge alongside the Quarry access road, and flew back towards the Quarry. Mixed-tit flocks by Alexandra Lodge and The Triangle contained a couple of Goldcrest, over twenty Long-tailed Tit and a Nuthatch. Two Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen today: One flew from trees by the Dipping Ponds at Mill Lakes; and another was seen tapping a dead tree by the Ludgate Close entrance.