There were a few showers about first thing this morning, but they soon died away to leave a bright morning with some sunny spells.

I went over to the lake first thing, just in case anything had taken shelter there from yesterdays storm, it hadn't, unfortunately, only the local MALLARDS and one or two MOORHENS were seen there. On the way to the lake, I recorded the expected set of birds, that are to be found at this time of year, CHAFFINCH, BLUE and GREAT TIT, GREEN WOODPECKER, DUNNOCK, WREN, ROBIN and the likes, all easily being found along Ashes Lane and into the Small holding. The wet woods are filling up nicely now after all the recent rain, and a few Moorhens have moved in, above in the almost bare trees there were a good number of Blue and Great Tits, the odd GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, and at least 2 TREECREEPERS. The LONG TAILED TITS had moved into one of the large gardens that lie between the wet woods and the lake, with them were a GOLDCREST and two COAL TITS.

The tree nursery was very wet and muddy, the ground being torn up by the workers vehicles, but the PIED WAGTAILS seemed to enjoy it all, while BLACKBIRDS and SONGTHRUSH'S flew out of the remaining shrubs as I passed them.

Migrant alley was home to a few SKYLARK, MEADOW PIPIT, more Pied Wagtails and 50-60 BLACKHEADED GULLS, just a few single FIELDFARE flew over and a couple of SISKIN, but not much else was noted on the winter visitor front.

I walked along the college stream and into the grounds, and was pleased to see a GREY WAGTAIL, looking splendid in the sunshine, also a flock of GOLDFINCH'S partying in an alder tree - which was gatecrashed by a male SPARROWHAWK.

Passing the college sports pitch, and back through Migrant Alley I added a lone GREYLAG GOOSE, and CORMORANT to my list, as they flew over, and a pair of YELLOWMMER that did the same brought the daylist to 42 - just about what I would expect at this time of year. Nothing new for the month, but I should get one or two more new species in the last few weeks of November.


Above: A Female HOUSE SPARROW. Below: A SONG THRUSH, that was singing loudly - good to hear it's lovely song again!

At last I got out this morning for the first full November walk of my patch. Unfortunately the conditions were atrocious! I left at 07:00hrs in windy, showery weather, but it just got even windier and the showers grew even heavier as the walk went on.

Just 39 species were recorded in the 3 and a half hour visit, many were missed due to the fierce wind making all song and calls inaudible, except for a lone MISTLE THRUSH which sat atop a tree and attempted to shout down the storm - no wonder the old English name for these birds is Stormcock. Species such as House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Collard Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Goldcrest, all normally easy finds, kept themselves well in cover and none were recorded today.

A group of at least 12 YELLOWHAMMER, seen at Migrant Alley, and a flyover of around 75 FIELDFARE was just about the best action of the day! A KESTREL did attempt to hunt along ashes lane, and of course the SPARROWHAWK was out hunting as well, and I did pick up the REDWING and STOCK DOVE that were the remaining easier species not yet on the months list, but all in all, it was a very unsatisfactory visit - surely I will eventually get some sort of rhythm going for November, it's been a very difficult month, some settled weather might just help!