cold morning

A very cold and frosty start, but I did manage a couple of hours walkabout, first stop Captain's Pool, quiet apart from 4 Gooseanders up by the island and a cormorant.

A walk up to the top of the fields via Ghost Lane before the sun came up, lots of small birds about but difficult to see what they were in the poor light.

A quick walk along Stanklyn, had to be quick as was on a tight schedule today, saw fieldfare and lots of redwings this morning, but sadly no further sign of the stonechat.

This pic from the Dead Man's Allotment shows the mist just as the sun was about to rise.

This is from just inside the Carrot field, large flock of linnets again today, also saw raptor attacking the flock up the top and as a Merlin was seen in the area yesterday by Jason Kernohan, it is a possibility, but most probably a Kestrel, will never know.

This is my favourite tree from the top of the field.

A few Greenfinch and Starlings were perched in the hedgerow by this tree, always a good spot for bird sightings. Quite often see a brambling here.

Back down to Captain's, lots of Chaffinch in and out of the weedy field.

Early light against Pirates Wood, 5 larger birds flew into tree tops as I stood there, about the size of Redwings, but my eyes not that good to tell what they were.

Sod's Law as I arrived at the pool 5 swans were just rising into the sky, ripples still vibrant from where they had lifted off, if only I had been a few seconds earlier, bet it was a great sight to behold.

With a tear dropping from my eye I am still thinking about what a picture it would have been!

Didn't see the Gooseander, but Cormorant was still perched on the island tree,

Sun showing through the trees at Captain's.

Good walkabout planned for tomorrow all being well.