Got down the patch early this morning, after all, I’d somehow managed to stay away from the place for almost a week. The hen harrier showed well again over the reedbeds.

Hougham mill lane.

2 bullfinches. 12 mute swans on the pool. leucistic greylag and 2 pinkfeet with greylag flock. 50+ fieldfares and a few redwings near paddocks. 20 lapwings over, water rail heard, 2 tree sparrows. cettis heard.

Works area.

3 grey wagtails, 3 little grebes, green sandpiper, several buzzards over. 2 grey heron.

Hide and main track.

5 or 6 water rails, cettis (seen), 2 shelducks, 2 shoveler, little grebe, c25 lesser redpoll, linnets, 4 buzzards, reed buntings all over the reedbeds (est 40), 18 curlew, 2 snipe, gs woodpecker heard drumming. 2 r l partridges.

Square plantation ( small wood on Sand lane-the wood on right as you walk down main track.)

Treecreeper and coal tit.

Later on David Morison turned up and then Spadge, we enjoyed a lovely morning chatting, moaning and laughing.