Chiffchaffs are cheap today cheaper than .......

The thick fog that has shrouded the pond for the last 36 hours drifted away to bright sunshine as we walked to toft shallows producing good views of the male Smew and possibly a record winter’s count of Chiffchaff for me with 4 seen (2 in toft shallows and 2 fishing lodge which are probably the 2 seen on hensborough bank yesterday when one was also in toft bay so could be five on site)

Other passerines included 6+ Goldcrest, 14 Long-tailed Tit, 25 Siskin, 3 Lesser Redpolls and Treecreeper feeding very actively in the -5 conditions. Although an increase in Coot and Tufted Duck numbers other duck species counts were piss poor for this time of year with only 4 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 20 Wigeon, 22 Goldeneye and 40+ Teal noted. Three Snipe were in toft shallows while another was seen over the valley, other sightings included 10 Meadow Pipit, 60+ Lapwing, Buzzard, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker and a few winter thrushes.

Yesterday in very poor conditions I might have had 11 Waxwing over hensborough bank heading west but views were poor, Tree Sparrows still on the saddle bank feeder and Grey Wagtail.

good to have Bob back in the field and sent me this shot of the Smew