Garden Firecrest

Lade - Lockdown Day 6 - cold, cloudy, showers, ne 7 - Although, yesterday`s weather was sunny and windy at least it was dry. Today it stepped up somewhat with a rasping gale force wind whipping in off the bay together with wintry showers throughout, mostly of hail; one of which we managed to connect with during our exercise walk this morning! However, it didn`t deter at least four kite surfers who tried their luck on the beach until intercepted by the police and told to go home, while in a similar vein the weekend fishing camp remained in the willow swamp.

                               Woodpigeon, guilty as charged!

  There was little change to the birding scene with the five Goldeneyes still on south lake and a singing Chifffchaff by the ponds, although yesterday a Sandwich Tern on the bay was new for the local patch Lockdown List. Todays list newbie (72 species) was a Firecrest calling from the garden fir trees and briefly seen, despite the gale, while a Sparrowhawk made a dusk time foray into the back garden. Also of note was a Woodpigeon on the front wall making short work of the buds on our Virginia creeper!