Great Spotted Woodpeckers

Lade - mild, cloudy, showers, light airs, sw 4-5 later - Started the day with a one hour viz mig from the aerial ramp overlooking south lake in decent weather conditions with a light south-westerly. Numbers of birds overhead were, once again, pathetically low as follows: Skylark 3, Swallow 1, Meadow Pipit 21, alba wagtail 12, Grey Wagtail 1, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 5, Chaffinch 51, Greenfinch 5, Goldfinch 72, Linnet 32 and Reed Bunting 2. However, it was slightly better on the ground with one each of Dartford Warbler and Ring Ouzel along the main track scrub and four Great Spotted Woodpeckers around the ponds. Also noted a couple each of Goldcrest and Chiffchaff, Cetti`s Warbler, two Great White Egrets and three Marsh Harriers.
  A wander down to the pines and behind Tower pits wasn't much more inspiring as the wind had picked up; plenty of Robins, a few Blackbirds, another Ring Ouzel and two more Great Spotted Woodpeckers was about it. Over the road the Red-throated Diver and Long-tailed Duck remained on Burrowes and two Cattle Egrets were in the Boulderwall fields.  

                                Rainbow over Lade