Pittswood Birds

At last, some sunshine! So after work, and a bite to eat, I set of for the lake area via the wet woods. Most of the activity in the wet woods was centered at the western end, where the sunshine penetrated the woods. A flock of at least a dozen LONGTAILED TITS were joined by a minimum of 6 GOLDCREST, again, careful scanning for a Firecrest was in order, but none was present, a lone TREECREEPER also tagged along with them.
I passed the large garden on the way to the lake, and talked to the gardener (the one who chops and burns tree's for a hobby) He told me it was the owners of the garden who told him to do the work, I told him what I thought of his employers,and got on with my birding.
At the lake I scanned across and found 6 MALLARD, but then......hey whats that....a COOT! a real treat for my patch, not seen one here since 21st Feb. a bonus addition for the december list! However much more excitement was to come, I picked out a smaller duck, grey back, brown head, bit of white on the wing, bloody hell, a female GOLDENEYE (121:102) !! A patch tick ! This really was a most unexpected addition to my Pittswood list - brilliant! I would have been pleased with the KINGFISHER that flew onto a branch, and gave good, but distant views, as it was a first recorded this month, but it had to take a back seat today. I was well happy with the afternoons sightings, but unbelievably another treat was in store in the form of a female GOOSANDER! It must have been under the overhanging tree's when i first arrived, and I failed to notice it.Another species for the month, and the first seen since 4 flew over the lake on 20 Jan earlier. this year.
Regular followers of my blog will know that the lake on my patch rarely holds anything more exciting than a Mallard, moorhen, or the occasional goose, so today was exceptional, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming it all. Today must be my best winters patch watch ever!

The pics. of todays birds are absolutely dire, but I just had to get some form of record!
Above is the Coot, a rareity in itself.

Above the Female Goosander, the fouth year out of the seven years recording, that this species has been seen.

Above and below:. The female Goldeneye - Wow!!