Nine of us  for the February amble amble round the levels & river on Monday 20th.

Along the first part of the railway line we heard three different Song Thrushes, got good views of a Jay, a brief glimpse of a Nuthatch as it flew from a wire into a tree.  Once into the fields and looking over patches of water on the levels,  most of the usual duck species were noted – Teal, Wigeon, Pintail and Mallard, plus 3 Shoveler.  A Raven was heard, then Buzzard and Red Kite seen.  When the Lapwings rose into the air and were easier to see, a conservative count was 300.  A couple of Snipe were noted.  Where the millstream reaches the railway line, we could see about 80 Greylag Geese and a few Canadas in a field to the east, then in a wet patch a bit closer were 5 Pied Wagtails and a couple of Meadow Pipits.  Skylark in song too.  On the west side one Grey Heron was sitting on the right hand nest, and two Little Egrets were lurking underneath.  Just one Cormorant in the oak tree, though we’d seen another earlier.

Dave had just mentioned that we hadn’t had any Fieldfares, when we found a field full of them (about 100) with some Redwings and Starlings too.  Near the overflow pit  Suzy noticed some small waders fly over, which then merged with some Lapwings.  Reckon they were Dunlin, but not quite sure enough to put them in as a BirdTrack record. They weren’t Snipe or Green Sandpipers though. Angela departed here and headed back to Small Dole.   By the time we got to New Inn we were rather “birded out” though enjoyed seeing two Ravens fly across, and some Greenfinches singing.  The final nice spot of the morning for the remaining 4 was a very nice view of a Goldcrest low down in the bushes by Rye House.  As a postscript two of us wandered down to the pools by the Rye Farm track and had lovely views of at least 5 Chiffchaffs.

As always, thanks to all for their eyes and ears to help spot the 46 different species (or was it 47?)!