Bough Beech with Denis + 23 species

Arrived at Bough Beech about 09.45 am today only to find it almost totally frozen over on both sides, like something from the winter olympics!

There did not appear to be many birds about 1st thing but soon they started showing, the 1st being a group of 13 Teal of mixed sex and this was followed by 4 Carrion Crows.

My friend Denis

Black Headed Gulls on Ice

Pair of Grey Herons

 A flock of 34 Black Headed Gulls were standing on the ice (see photo). Blue Tit and Great Tit were both heard only today and a Coot was spotted. A couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard drumming around the vicinity and 3 Grey Herons were spotted.

 12 Cormorants were spotted within a tree, some fanning there wings to dry feathers in the sun and a lone Wood Pigeon also spotted. A single Moorhen also along with a single Shelduck and 3 Canada Geese on the far bank, lucky I had my scope with me, and about 50 Tufted Ducks also over the back.

Denis spotted a lone Pied Wagtail and I spotted a Robin on the footpath and then Den noticed movement jumping from hedge to path and back again, I am 99.9% sure it was a Wren. A pair of Great Crested Grebes appeared to be doing a courting ritual, interesting viewing with the scope.

A male Pheasant was my next spot against the back fence and a pair of Magpies on the fence, next was 5 pairs of Mallards and a total of 11 Mandarin Ducks (6 male and 5 female), this was followed by our last spot which was a lone Goosander.

Birds of the day have to be the Mandarin Ducks.