I spent 3 hours out on my patch this morning, a cool NW wind blew, but it was dry with a few sunny spells appearing occasionally.

A rather low tally of 37 species was found, the MUTE SWAN pair and the KINGFISHER remain at the Ornamental Lake, hopefully they will remain over winter, six MALLARD and 4 MOORHEN were with them, the other two Lakes had just 4 Mallard between them.

View over the Main Lake, empty as is usually the case!

Yesterdays missing woodland species, the LONG TAILED TIT and TREECREEPER were both seen in the Scrubby Woods today, the latter giving some song, but the Coal Tit and Nuthatch were not seen today. A pair of LESSER REDPOLL dropped into an Alder tree by the Lakeside, and four SISKINS did likewise a few minutes later. At least 6 BULLFINCH were seen, plus 4 GOLDCRESTS, all watched while listening to the sound of the singing MISTELTHRUSH.

A lone CORMORANT flew over as I crossed the Ashes lane Field to get to the Greenhouse Grounds and Migrant Alley, the LITTLE OWL was again observed in the old shack, but it was very hard going to find much more of note, a few SKYLARKS called as they went over, BLACK HEADED and HERRING GULLS were moving from paddock to pasture, and a SPARROWHAWK whizzed past. I counted 19 REDWING flying through, not stopping, as there are no berries on the hedges here, even as I watched the Redwings I could here the hedgerow along ashes Lane being smashed to bits by the tractors flail.

For the first time this month there was no sign of the Kestrel pair, I suspect they are just off patch hunting. The months list has stalled a bit now, but the likes of Yellowhammer, Common Gull or Lapwing might still turn up yet, more likely just flying over, but still welcome additions none-the-less   ;-)

Not too much for the camera today these Fly Agaric Toadstools looked interesting on the floor of the Wet Woods

Unusual to see them in such good condition

Normally they are eaten before they even open out fully

There were two COAL TITS at my garden feeders when I got home

Coal Tit

Also, no less than 3 NUTHATCH were taking the sunflower hearts

So its no wonder I couldn't find these two species over in the scrubby Woods!

I decided to do a full patch walk this morning, as the weather had settled down.The clear overnight conditions gave a touch of mist and frost first thing, with some good sunny spells developing as the morning went on.

Early sunshine at the Small Holding

The Small holding was visited first off, but for such a nice, sunny, still morning there was little about, a few CHAFFINCH, BLACKBIRD, WREN, ROBIN, GREAT and BLUE TIT, plus a GREEN WOODPECKER were about it.

Albino Squirrel in the Wet Woods

Apart form the above albino Squirrel, there was not much to be found in the Wet Woods, it is a dark, cold and damp place at most times of year, but particularly so in November, a few more Blue and Great Tit were heard, and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER was seen, plus a MOORHEN called from the tangle of branches covering the pools of water, no sign of the hoped for Teal though.

I reached the Lakes and Scrubby Woods, finding the MUTE SWANS and KINGFISHER on the Ornamental Lake, along with 6 MALLARD and a few Moorhens. Just More Mallard and Moorhen were on the other two water bodies, but a GREY HERON dropped in whilst I was there.

Mute Swan

A check of the surrounding bankside vegetation, and the adjacent Scrubby Woods was made, where not all of the resident woodland species were found,Treecreeper and Long Tailed Tit were missing today, but good views of COAL TIT, GOLDCREST and NUTHATCH were had, only glimpses of BULLFINCH were had though. At least two LESSER REDPOLL were heard to call as they flew over and the MISTLETHRUSH was singing again, much louder than on previous visits.

I walked the Ashes Lane Field, the Pub Field, Migrant Alley and the Greenhouse Grounds with its associated copse, and was a bit disappointed with the lack of birds. A LITTLE OWL was on the old shack at the Ashes lane Field, 18 BLACK HEADED GULL were on the Pub Field, and Migrant Alley was only good for a few overflying SKYLARK, MEADOW PIPIT and HERRING GULLS. Only the female KESTREL was seen at the Greenhouse Grounds, the male probably off patch hunting today, a small flock of 15-20 GOLDFINCH were seen in the Alder trees, but apart from that it was down to finding DUNNOCKS, more Wrens and Robins, a couple of PIED WAGTAILS, 4 GREENFINCH, a SONGTHRUSH and a couple of JAYS.

Robin at the Greenhouse Grounds

With just 39 species recorded, it was not quite as good as I thought it would be, given the lovely weather today. At least I managed to get a few more images of the garden birds at my feeders this afternoon, they will brighten future posts!
Here's couple of last nights sunset images - bonus photo's  :-)

Tuesdays Sunset

Quite spectacular, I really needed to use wide angle lens to get the full effect