The Area 2 walk on Tuesday this week was a major challenge for the birds. How to stay hidden with no fewer than 12 avid HBW members on the prowl. They did their best aided by a dull grey day of low visibility but they were not successful. We clocked up a very creditable 35 species as well as enjoying good company. it was always going to be a good day after a Nuthatch was found in the big oaks near Backsett Town and a group of about 10 Reed Buntings played hide and seek in the hedgerow down Furners Lane. We found Goldcrests at different places although, despite strenuous efforts, the elusive Treecreepers remained … well, elusive. The Fieldfare was exactly the same  but we did find a good few Redwing eventually as well as hearing the winter singing of Song Thrushes. The hedgerow between Woodside and Morley Farms was more productive than usual with a large group of Yellowhammers, Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits, Redwing, Chaffinches, Robins and Wrens plus a large, if distant, flock of Linnets giving a “puppet-on-a-string” style fly past. Best of all, however, was a male Bullfinch that flew away from us down the Hedgerow. I took us to the fields near Park Farm for Skylark and Meadow Pipit which both failed to show which goes to show you just can’t rely on the little blighters! (NC)