While throwing sticks for the dog on Saturday morning at Awbridge Village Hall: one or more Bramblings overhead, several Bullfinches, a Lapwing, several Fieldfares, Redwings and Mistle Thrush.
On Sunday afternoon, Mike and I took a circular walk from the Duke’s Head to Fishlake Meadows and back along the incredibly-rubbish-to-walk-on main road.
At the river near the pub, a few Tufties, a Grey Wagtail, one or two Little Grebes and a Stonechat.
Down beside the old canal, two small ducks flew past giving an unfamiliar whistling – a pair of Mandarins, the first I’ve seen in the area. A few geese, Cormorants and herons commuted in and out of the dead-tree-lined lake (locals mentioned seeing an Osprey there in the autumn), while a Cetti’s Warbler tutted from the reeds.
Plenty of passerines fiddled their way through the trees – Treecreepers, Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, but unfortunately no Waxwings or Hawfinches (both reported today), despite a search of the usual parts of the housing estate.
Sunday saw the familiar sighting of nuthatches and long tailed tits.