Snowy, cold but bright.
Very quiet on the bird front here over the last few days but quite a bit of snow making it treacherous underfoot on the side roads. All the usual birds have been in evidence but mostly in small quantities.
Several Greater Spotted Woodpeckers and Nuthatches were seen in the woods, with two Fieldfares feeding on windfall apples.
A journey further afield was called for as the village was only yielding sightings of all the normal suspects. New Fancy was first call, no Hawfinch but a large quantity of Chaffinches were under the feeders as were about six Robins flitting from place to place. The feeders were occupied by loads of tits. Great, Blue, Coal and Longtailed were all to be seen.
A visit to Cannop followed with the following being seen on the water, Mute Swan, Mallard, Mandarin, Coot and Moorhen. Nothing unexpected there then. The feeders were swarming with birds. Great, Blue, Coal and Longtailed Tits were all feeding well in good quantities as were a large flock of Chaffinches, both sexes, about equal in number. Two Reed Bunting cocks and one hen were feeding for a long spell as were Robins and a single Nuthatch. Other visitors were one Song Thrush, several Blackbirds, a Treecreeper which confined itself to the small tree trunks and a Grey Wagtail. An interesting hour or so in the snowy Forest.
During an evening walk with the dog, one Rabbit ran across in front of us, the first seen for some time. Normally they are about all day long, here. Tracks in the snow showed Rabbits all over the place, with both a Fox and Deer having visited the oak wood that I pass through.