A lovely bright, but cold, day on my local patch:- The mere was completly frozen except for two small open patches of water with a family of 8 Mute Swans on one patch and 78 Coot on the other. Standing on the ice were 44 Gadwall, 11 Teal, 99 Mallard, 137 Black-headed and 29 Common Gulls. A pair of Goosanders flew in and landed briefly on the ice before flying off again as did a single male Tufted Duck. 1 Grey Heron on borrow pit. 2 male Sparrowhawks displaying over the mere. 1 Water Rail heard calling. 41 Lapwings flew over, flocks of 14 and 26 flew W and a single bird flew E. 2 Collared Doves flew S (a scarce bird at the mere). 1 Kingfisher on sluice. 12 Meadow Pipits and 3 Pied Wagtails feeding on frozen flooded field. c70 Fieldfares and c40 Redwings. 2 Yellowhammers.
_________________ Regards,
Andy.
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