Not having seen Brambling this winter, I thought I would check out Russell's flock in Market Stainton this morning (Fri).
I arrived there at 10.15 and parked near the Church by the village green ( with happy memories of a pair of Spotted Flycatchers feeding their young in the nest in a low tree there last July

). I walked along the road towards the Hall and spent c.20 minutes looking into the Hall grounds in/under the Beech trees for the Bramblings....but nothing to report (NTR). The Hall is being renovated, with windows boarded up and scaffolding plus there were builders' vans.....so, I strolled along the entrance road to the Hall to get nearer some of the Beeches.....another 20 minutes.... but still NTR
Anyway, returning to my car near the Church, what should I bump but a group of c. 12-15 Bramblings feeding on the mast in a Beech right in front of the Church itself

just by the road T- junction. As ever, the handsome males really stood out amongst the duller females and the 3 or 4 accompanying Chaffinches.
Also around :
Sparrowhawk
Mistle Thrush
Song Thrush
c. 10 Fieldfares.
Freddy