A break in the awful weather of late gave me a chance to get out this afternoon after work, I headed off over to the lakes, via the Tree Nursery, where not much was happening, just the KESTREL pair up hunting and a couple of GREEN WOODPECKERS of note. A SPARROWHAWK flew over the adjacent Pub Field, which was completely devoid of birds thereafter!

At the lakes, the only things on the water were 14 MALLARD and 2 MOORHEN, while around the lake edges both GOLDCREST and a pair of BULLFINCH were seen. A COAL TIT called from the adjacent Scrubby Woods, as did a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, but in all it was a very disappointing visit here, well it was for finding birds at least. However, I got some great views of a WEASEL as it came from under an out building to check the coast was clear, before dragging out a Vole, of course, the coast wasn't clear because I was awaiting with my camera  ;-)

I love these little creatures, you cant look at them and not smile!

Weasel checking coast is clear

One more check

All clear to move lunch to a safer spot to eat  :-)

  I just love the furry feet!

After my Weasel encounter, I headed off over to the Greenhouse Grounds, finding a feeding flock of around 12 SISKIN and 12 GOLDFINCH on the Alders, also one of the Kestrels had come over from the Tree Nursery. Amongst the scrubby areas, another pair of Bullfinch were seen, as well as most of the usual regulars of WREN, DUNNOCK, ROBIN, CHAFFINCH, SONGTHRUSH, BLACKBIRD and another Goldcrest, nothing new for the months list this afternoon though. I got some Siskin photo's and another Kestrel image, but i'll save them for tomorrow !

A note from my garden-: The MARSH TIT decided my garden is again in favour  :-) it visited late on, along with 2 LONG TAILED TITS, making five tit species at my feeders today. Also of note, was a TAWNY OWL that was heard 'kewicking' at 23:45hrs last night   :-)

I'm off work now until the 7th of Jan, but tomorrow looks like a write off, heavy rain moving in over night and into the morning once again  :-(

The expected deluge arrived overnight, and lasted throughout the day, a truly miserable and dark December day, as many are of course  :-) 

So another patch visit was missed, the third in a row now, i'm getting withdrawal symptoms! Hopefully at some point it will eventually stop raining, and i'll get out again, especially as I finish work tomorrow and am off until early January  :-)

Until then here's the last of my photo's from the ''Blog Folder'' these were taken from my garden last weekend  :-)

BLUE TIT ( wow the sun was out!)

CHAFFINCH (Male)

Chaffinch ( Male)

Chaffinch ( Female)