The Fab Four (me, Will, Nigel & Nige) did our annual New Year Bird Race on 4th January. 66 species, beating our previous record by 3. Walked 11 miles – should have been 10 but flooding by New Inn meant we had to go the extra mile! Highlights were Blackcap at 8 am in my garden, Water Rail having a splash and a preen by the hide at Woods Mill, Water Pipit by the overflow pit (a lifer for Will and first for us in the Race). Treecreeper & Mistle Thrush along the Hollands Lane bridleway, Tufted Duck on the water, then finally the Chiffchaffs and Grey Wagtail showed up by Rye Farm. Finished with a Tawny Owl hooting along Stonepit Lane in the dark about 4.30. No bird pics, but one of the lads wading through the floods at the millstream.