Buzzards buzzed

Some heavy overnight showers of hail and rain. Overcast all day even so the temperature never got higher than 2.5°C. A light breeze began SE and ended up NE

Imperial Rd (MD)

I called in early on to see if the Stonechat were still around, but there was no sign.

Common Buzzard 2 

They were initially perched on two of the three tall posts at the south side of the road

The nearer bird was quite pale

There were two unhappy Carrion Crow trying to get them to move on, but to no avail. But the clamour attracted more crows and Jackdaws, then more serious mobbing began.

Eventually they'd had enough, the paler bird was the first to leave and it landed in the trees towards the north side, where they can regularly be seen.

Then the other one was persuaded to leave, interestingly, this one flew off further south.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a quick look at the two main ponds. The overnight rain had left a covering of water over the ice at the "no swimming" pond. Not a single wildfowl to be seen. But there was quite a gathering at the free area at the feeding station of the main Pond.

Mute pair plus 8 immature 

Coot 4

Moorhen 6

Mallard 22

Gadwall 16

Teal 1

These are some of the above.

South shore

Nothing feeding on the outflows again.

Red Nab

Pale-bellied Brent goose 7

Pink-Footed goose 1 - the injured bird was out from the foreshore again

Shelduck 27

Wigeon 150

Little Egret 2 

Grey Heron 1

Heron with Brent Geese and Wigeon

Waders in order of abundance:

Oystercatcher 

Redshank 20+

Turnstone 10+

Curlew 3

Knot (just 2)

Grey plover 1

In contrast to the 2 Knot on Red Nab, Howard provided this short compilation showing the Knot and Oystercatcher being pushed towards the old heliport wall on an earlier tide this week.