Got out for an hour after work this evening which was very nice.
Down at the lake as I got to the pumping station a Grey Wagtail flew overhead. In the orchards there were plenty of Fieldfares and Redwings.
At the feeders four tit species were seen- Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh and the Water Rail was pecking around underneath.

Water Rail under the feeders

On the water the pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying and a pair of Mandarins were under the trees at the southern end where two Reed Buntings were in the reed bed.
On the walk back up Furnace Lane a Goldcrest was in the hedge and as I got further up he hill I heard the call of a Chiffchaff(69) ,then found it flitting around in the hedge. A great end to my evening stroll.

1. Walks after work didn't produce anything new but it was good to see that the Waxwing was still in Gibbet Lane and was joined by a second bird on Wednesday 8th.

   

           Waxwing in Gibbet Lane



















Saturday was a surprise with snow falling as I left the house.
Down at the lake,I found a Water Rail under the feeders, which I photographed from a distance, through the heavy snow.

The feeders were busy with plenty of tits and goldfinches attending including the usual Marsh Tit. Two Reed Buntings were in the reeds in the south west corner and a Grey Heron was on the stream.

In Kirkins there was flock of Meadow Pipits which numbered around fifty.Inevitably a Waxwing was seen in Gibbet Lane but it appeared to be a different individual.

The feeders in the garden were alive with birds with lots of Goldfinches and six Greenfinches which included five males plus Chaffinches and House Sparrows.The cold weather had also bought in a Pied Wagtail.

Today was cold with a little drizzle and the lake held a Great Crested Grebe,Mandarin,Mallard and Moorhen.A kingfisher was on the Shirrenden side and the Water Rail appeared briefly by the feeders.

A flock of Siskins flew over me on the farm track and four Bullfinches were on the Shirrenden side.

Undoubtedly the highlight was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker that called and drummed before flying towards Furnace Lane.

The Waxwing was seen on the way home and a Marsh Tit was in Furnace Lane.  

I managed a quick walk down to the lake on Friday 3rd after work before the rain came.
I checked the feeders and watched the comings and goings of the various Tits which included 2 Marsh Tits.
Unfortunately I flushed a Little Owl(68) that was roosting in a lakeside tree.As usual the lake held few birds with just Mallard, Moorhen and Mandarin.
Saturday produced a pair of Reed Buntings in the ditch at the southern end and a Brambling feeding with Chaffinches under the alders in the bottom corner,
Walking back up Gibbet Lane I was pleased to find 5 Waxwings in the rear garden of one of the houses. It was great to re-find them as I hadn't seen any since Monday afternoon.
During the day they were very mobile but I did get some shots of them in the school grounds.

Today, down at the lake a Yellow hammer was seen along with a good flock of Siskins and a flyover Lesser Redpoll and Grey Wagtail.
The Kestrel pair were very vocal on the Shirrenden side and two Skylarks were singing over the cleared orchard.
Just 4 Waxwings were seen today with three in Gibbt Lane and one in the school as I walked home.

Waxwing in Gibbet Lane