The cloud partly cleared just after dawn, leaving a morning of sunny spells and a slight frost.

I decided to do a full patch walk, which produced a good bird species tally of 45, two of which were new for the months list, both flyovers, a CORMORANT (52) and a SKYLARK (53).

I was disappointed to see the lakes were still mostly frozen over, so only the MUTE SWAN pair, MALLARDS and MOORHENS were seen, plus the COOT was about again  :-) The Wet Woods and Scrubby Woods between them added most of the woodland specialists, except Treecreeper, I just couldn't find one today!

Out on the Fields and farmland, it was good to see FIELDFARE and REDWING spread across the Ashes Lane Fields, Migrant Alley and the arable fields that lie adjacent to High House Lane, at least 100 Fieldfare and maybe 50-60 Redwing were moving about the areas, the MISTLETHRUSH pair were also with them, plus 40-50 MEADOW PIPITS continue to use the Ashes Lane Fields.

The overwintering GREY WAGTAIL was again at the Greenhouse Grounds, where the KESTREL pair were hanging about, plus a pair of BULLFINCH fed on the old plum tree buds there. A SPARROWHAWK flew over Migrant Alley, where there were fewer BLACK HEADED GULLS today, just a dozen were seen, with them were a couple of HERRING GULL and a COMMON GULL, other than that it was a pretty standard winter visit  :-)

With the sunshine breaking through this afternoon, I was able to fill the blog photo folder with a few garden bird images - mostly of a WREN, so i'll post those over the next few days, here's that Wren to kick off with!

It sat preening in the sunshine for a few minutes

But It kept itself behind the ivy berries

Eventually it gained confidence and moved along the branch

Where it resumed preening

I was able to take lots of images as you can see!

I'll post more of the Wren another time!

TAWNY OWL (49) was added to my months list last evening, when two birds were heard to call, screech and 'bark' in the Wet Woods behind my house.

Back to this morning........... a dusting of snow lay around my patch first thing and further snow showers fell during my visit, but they amounted to nothing.

I knew the lakes would be frozen over, so I paid a visit to the fields and paddocks of Migrant Alley first off this morning, the hoped for Snipe didn't turn up though, they often do if its snows, just not today! There were plenty of FIELDFARE and REDWING moving about, in all, a couple of hundred birds were seen as I walked the sheep pasture and paddocks. A few single YELLOWHAMMER flew over as I left Migrant Alley via High House Lane and a party of 13 LONg TAILED TITS made there way along the lane, then a SPARROWHAWK flew past, putting up 50-60 Fieldfare that were on the adjacent arable fields there.

Passing through the Small Holding I saw the male KESTREL perched in one of the old pear trees, but not much else was seen. The pools of water in the Wet Woods were frozen over, just a few MOORHEN scampered about them, but up above in the branches a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER drummed and both NUTHATCH and COAL TIT called.

Reaching the lakes, it was as I feared, the water was frozen over, apart from a small area of the ornamental lake that is kept open by the fountain. The MUTE SWAN pair made use of it, along with a few MALLARD, but I didn't see the Coot today.

I made my way back over to the Greenhouse Grounds via the Ashes Lane Fields, where yet more Fieldfare/Redwing/STARLINGS were feeding, then, as I walked beside the drainage ditch between two fields, a whoosh of wings was heard and up came a WOODCOCK (50) a fantastic bird to get on my patch, the second record this year, but I never loose the 'buzz' of seeing one. Crossing the ditch and into the next field, I put up at least 50 MEADOW PIPITS, which swirled around calling before dropping back down further into the field.

I ended my visit over at the Greenhouse Grounds, finding the GREY WAGTAIL there, plus a pair of BULLFINCHES and the female Kestrel. A quick 20 minute sky watch was had, again hoping for a flyover wader, but none were seen, I did however see 3 COMMON BUZZARDS (51) up soaring.

Nothing for the camera today, although I did narrowly fail to get both Bullfinch and Grey Wagail at close range! The blog photo folder has run dry, so an image less post today   :-(