0800 to 1200 hrs -1 rising to +4 bright sunshine calm.

Most notable species were Blackbird and Chaffinch, very large numbers of both all round the route, certainly more than I have ever seen.

Several good Tit flocks of around 20, mostly Blue, Great, and coal all feeding quite high in the woodland especially where the sunshine was, only one group of Long-tailed Tits were seen although this numbered 30+ and was very mobile through the hawthorn.

Five separate Goldfinch charms numbering 12/9/14/20+/7 all were feeding on Alder, spent some time looking for Siskin and Redpoll but found none (see winter feeding station report).

Single male Bullfinch on Guilder rose berries in Lumb along with four Greenfinch.

Goldcrest are not common here but numbers do increase in the winter, but I am seeing more recently, the count this morning was 7 mostly on Alder and Hawthorn.

There were good numbers of Nuthatch all round and two pairs of Tree Creeper feeding among moss covered trees.

Robins, Wrens, and even Dunnock were in good numbers, with some Robins coming to hand for mealworms.

Thrush numbers were reasonable, only three Mistle, harassing Blackbirds in Hawthorn, total of 9 Song Thrush seen, four groups of Redwing, 12/6/9/5 all in Hawthorn mostly Alderbottom and Irwell vale. Seven Fieldfare in Cow field at Lumb.

The river at Chatterton and Strongstry is disturbed by EA working on repairing the banking so hopefully we can get our bridge back, so not much avain activity on this stretch, that said the river in other areas produced, Kingfisher 2, Dipper 5, Greywagtail 1, Cormorant 1, Moorhen 2, these were in Irwell vale I assume they came of the small lodge which is frozen, Goosander 3 this included a very bright male, and several Mallard.

High numbers of Jackdaw in all areas, very few Rook and Carrion Crow, 10+ Jay round the route and too many Magpie.

Woodpigeon everywhere in Beech trees, one pair of Collard dove were in Strongstry this morning unusually these days, a pair of Stock Dove were roosting near Alderbottom at first light and looked very cold.

The groups of House Sparrows at Chatterton and Irwell vale seem to have done ok, several were feeding on fallen Beech mast.

No raptors were seen this morning, two day roosting Tawny Owl were observed in different locations.

Regards Brian.

PS just realised I did not see any Woodpeckers this morning, which is unusual as there is one at the feeding station now.

-- Edited by brian on Monday 5th of December 2016 12:23:29 PM