Weather,mainly clear,calm and milder than of late 8:am-9:30am.
I first looked in on the Streamside lake on the slim chance that the Bittern might be showing,but it was not to be.However I was partly consoled by the only sighting of a Chiffchaff.As I walked through the west scrub a small mixed flock of Feildfare and Redwing flew off and a Kestral hovered overhead.The east scrub which is now very wet underfoot held 20+ Chaffinch,20 Goldfinch and a screaming Green Woodpecker which was being closely pursued by a male Sparrowhawk.Shortly after however the Sparrowhawk reappeared and was being mobbed by a Crow,so I assumed the Woodpecker had got away.Moving on to Abbey mead,Wigeon had reappeared (2 drakes and 3 ducks) after a absence of a few weeks and along the river 30+ Teal,1 Little Egret,1 Redshank and 3 Herons were seen.I also had a count of 9 Little Grebe,2 being on Abbey Mead,5 on Johnson`s lake and 2 on the wader scrape.

Seeing as it was Saturday and there was a good chance the gate to the trout lake would be open,I popped in to see the Goldeneye that has been present there for a while.I would agree that it is a drake going on the amount of white in the wings and along its flanks and is that the makings of a white mark by its bill (see photo).


December 6th,1982.Weather cold,mainly overcast,northeast.
Holborough marsh - trapped 13 Common Snipe and 1 Jack.Six Shelduck,1 Ruddy Shelduck,1 Ringtail harrier and 1 Short-eared Owl at Burham +150 Dunlin along the river.

During the 1970s and 1980s,Dunlin wintered along the river in good numbers (400+) but by the 1990s numbers began to fall.Short-eared Owls were also regular through the 1970s and 1980s,with up to 4 being present during the winter months.