Grey Squirrel

Spent most of the day inside working. This Grey Squirrel was very bold, pinching bird seed right next to me.

A very quick walk around Fowlmere shortly before dark produced a flyover Merlin. Probably a female (on size) but silhouetted in the fog.

Fowlmere & Shepreth L-moor

Bugger all. A few Goldcrests at both sites and eight Wrens going to roost in a nestbox below the Mere hide. Interesting patterns in the ice though…

House Crow

Cobh, Cork, with Cris Freddi for the long staying House Crow. Took an hour or so to find but good views in the end. Then spent the next several hours trying to get to Tacumshin for the Northern Harrier. We were told not to attempt it, and should have taken the advice as the snow drove us back when we had completed most of the journey. Several hours later we were back in Cork dipping a Ring-necked Duck before downing a couple of Guinness and heading home. An expensive probable non-tick, particularly as O2 charged me £20 for accessing 7mb of data and Ryan Air charged me €40 for replacing a lost boarding pass!

Grey Partridges

A total of twenty-one Grey Partridges seen whilst driving around. Eight near to Fowlmere RSPB, and thirteen along the Foxton-Fowlmere Road.

Went for a walk to look at tracks in the snow and skate on the ice with Sam and dusk. Usual good number of Redwings and Fieldfares.

Fowlmere

A male Merlin was the highlight. Lots of Thrushes, particularly Redwings. This Long-tailed Tit isn’t a Waxwing either.

Fowlmere

Snow on the ground. Eight Red-legged Partridges and four flyover Golden Plovers at Fowlmere.

Thetford Forest

An afternoon winter bike ride with the boys. Very cold! Noticed a few Marsh Tits amongst a Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, and Coal Tit flock, whilst Sam found his own Green Woodpecker and Treecreeper. Also a couple of Roe Deer.