14 'Alba' Wagtails in the second horse paddock included at least 1 White Wagtail. Difficult to check the others as most were silhouetted or at best moderately backlit. The one that was a clear 'White' was a stunningly clean bird. Cracking pale grey mantle contrasting with the black on the nape and head.

Originally posted today by Ian Coote:

Possible Osprey flying south over, 12:45hrs today.

Its been a bit quiet at Viridor this year - and its never been particularly exciting if I'm honest - so quiet, that I haven't really seen any point in posting the very limited sightings from my much reduced visits. Anyway, the last couple of visits have shown a bit more promise and today was decidedly better.

I wasn't expecting much with a midday visit and the first 20 mins were again looking bleak, especially when the drizzle kicked in. I hadn't had anything until a flock of Goldfinches attracted my attention near the farthest west paddock. I had gone to count them but was distracted by a sizeable flock of Pied wagtails - 15+ which also contained a nice surprise in the form of 3 juvenile Yellow Wagtails. A site tick for me.

Around the rest of the site there were a few Blackcaps, single Willow Tit, small flocks of Goldfinches probably 50 in total, and good numbers of swallows including many juveniles still being fed on the fence lines. Unsurprisingly on a midday visit there were very few birds calling so Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs etc were few and far between.

50+ Fieldfares in the paddocks around Lily Lane stables. 22 were making use of a small patch of open water in the flooded field but as they flew off and landed in a field to the south I could see at least another 28 birds join them and there were clearly other birds in the same field which could have been Fieldfares or other Thrushes.

6 Meadow pipits and 2 Grey Partridge in the field near the muck heaps.

There was a large number of gulls in the fields on the northern boundary following the plough and muck spreading tractors. Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed(1), Common and Black-headed were all present in numbers but impossible to count as they were constantly up and moving between the tractors. There were at least 600 mainly Black-headed resting in the field behind the police building.

A bit of a raptor fest this afternoon. Well, sort of. There were three Sparrowhawks circling together in what I took to be a family party. I was too far away to see any plumage details, but there was no obvious size difference so I am guessing that they were all the same sex, and as they were circling less than 10m apart I'm also guessing they were recently fledged siblings from the same nest. I certainly haven't seen that number here before today but have heard a Sparrowhawk calling in the area on a frequent basis. Also in almost the same area a Female Kestrel took up with one juvenile, also a very young looking bird - as it flew over I was pretty sure I could still see evidence of a yellow gape. The female on the other hand looked very very tatty!

A covey of Grey Partridge with a few youngsters nearly gave m ca heart attack when they exploded out from the side of the path this evening.lots of wood pigeons about, probably due to the harvesting in nearby fields. Otherwise quiet - some more non- bird stuff on the Wildlife Sightings section.

Yesterday and today saw Willow Tits calling on both sides of the site. Tonight there was a Grey Partridge Ke-cherring again in same area I saw it the other week. 

A single Sedge Warbler on the eastern side this evening was the first for the year. There were two Grasshopper Warblers in the same location - two territories side by side by the look of things. The numbers of Grasshopper Warblers is massively down on normal. Previous years have seen good numbers on the site, with maybe as many as 8 across both sides. This year just three so far (and one of those has been very quiet the last few days so may have done a runner!). Little else of note unfortunately.

A few more Willow Warblers today, plus the first Sand Martins (4) and a single Swallow.

Better day today - finally feels like spring is arriving. Plenty birds in song considering I was quite late visiting this morning. The first Chiffchaff of the year was on site and, perversely singing in a tree next to 23 Fieldfares and 4 Redwings, which were quite late for here. There was a large (200+) flock of Starlings on the fields to the north, feeding around a large pool that has formed in the last few months. Also around the pool were a few Lapwings and plenty Black-headed Gulls. quite a few Goldfinches were still around plus the usual Kestrel, Jays, Magpies and Woodpigeons. A single female Goosander flyover was a nice surprise.

A mooch this lunchtime was rewarding simply because I had my first Woodcock of the year. Also of note a flock of 28 Redwings, 2 Willow Tits, a single very dark Buzzard plus usuals.

Very late evening walk. Two tawny owls calling. Sadly outside the site boundary so not a site tick. One from around the Three Sisters Wetland Area, one from the mature woodland to the north adjacent to Bryn Gates Lane. Plenty of snipe flying over, probably feeding in the very wet paddocks.

Late report from Thursday 24th - 3 Greylag Geese flying west to east across the site were a new tick for me here. Surprised Ive not had them before given how close the site is to Horrocks Flash.

Brambling over, and six Red-legged Partridges were both new species for the site for me today. 27 Redwings over and 20 in plus a few thrushes but no indication of the big influxes seen over on the east coast. Guess birds haven't filtered inland yet. A few skylarks seemed to be moving but other than that pretty quiet.

A reasonable number of 'hirundines' today for the time of year - approx 40 house martins and a smattering of swallows were all present early evening so presumably roosting nearby. Surprisingly most of the swallows seemed to be adults based on the length of their outer tail feathers; I would have expected more juveniles. Also 4/5 chiffchaffs around including one that was exceptionally plain faced - no hint of a supercillium at all. Never seen one so plain before.

From yesterday: approx 80 swallows heading south over the site towards Three Sisters Wetland area around dusk suggesting a roost somewhere around the Three Sisters site. A couple of chiffchaffs still calling.

Sedge Warblers have arrived on site and it looks like there might be a new territory this year which in fairness is a 100% increase in numbers on the western side. Also sounds like a new Grasshopper Warbler territory might have been established. First Swift of the year too.

At least two Grasshopper Warblers on the western side today

There's been a suggestion of a redwing/fieldfare roost forming for the last few weeks. I'm pretty sure there is one now but its not huge, perhaps 50+ redwings and similar fieldfare numbers.

Otherwise quiet. Having traipsed round here for the whole winter for very little reward - mainly wood pigeons, magpies and the odd buzzard - I am fully expecting that the law of averages will even out and I'll be finding several rarities on this site in spring.

Single woodcock this evening. Seems like a good winter for them at this site at least.

2 Woodcock together in the gloaming this evening as I was out on a run. Not seen one here for ages so two together (and the first real good bird of the year) was a bonus.

Nipped out during my lunch hour. Very quiet and the best bird, a Dunlin, was a new flyover species for me here.

Perhaps a precursor to what could/should happen this weekend if the last weather report I saw is correct - the first Redwings of the year were on site, a small party of 6 in Big Hedge. At least three or four Song Thrushes were in the hedgerows which are birds I haven't seen before. Blackbirds haven't really increased though.

two visits this weekend. Sat on eastern side, today on western side.

Sat - very quiet. Highlights were 150 Lapwings over - disturbed from neighbouring farmland, Willow tit, two, maybe three Chiffchaffs.

Sunday - I'd guess between 300 and 400 Swallows and House Martins over and adjacent to the site. Difficult to get accurate counts, but probably split 70/30 in favour of swallows. 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Buzzard.