Well today Angela informed Hazel and me that we were very lucky because we benefitted from negative oxygen ions by walking in the rain. The BBC doctor says that is invigorating. Believe me, we must be well invigorated. However we clocked up 36 species. A flock of 150+ Wood Pigeons and mini Starling murmurations were interesting. We used Merlin properly to confirm we were seeing Meadow Pipits in poor light. A Cetti’s Warbler sang very briefly in the incongruous setting of a bush at the beginning of Furners Lane. A very handsome Fieldfare sat in a Hawthorn tree gobbling berries and even in driving rain we were pleased to see a group of Redwings. Skylarks did their best to put on a show.

Despite the weather a fun morning out!

Nigel Colgate, 14th November 2023