A brief visit am hoping to miss the rain - I didn't, it chucked it down!

A Curlew was heard several times over Small Pool, my second of the year for patch and it follows my fellow patch watcher hearing one in the same place 3 days ago.

A benefit of the rain was a hirundine flock low over Big Pool containing 15 Sand Martins and 10 Swallows, the latter being my first of 2024 anywhere in the country.

A short morning walk around Big Pool. Mild but windy.

Today 5(4 fem, 1w.drk) Goldeneye on Big Pool. Overhead a 3w Herring Gull and a 3w Lesser Black-backed Gull drifted south together, the former much scarcer than the latter on my patch!

In the fields east of the Pine Belt a flock of 15 Stock Doves were present, up on yesterday.

Dropped off this am on patch, cool at first and then sunshine and warm.

On Big Pool there were 4 Goldeneye consisting of 3 females with the first-winter drake. Also on there was a lone Greylag Goose. An Oystercatcher flew over just west of Big Pool. At least 14 Lapwings were seen on territory in the surrounding arable fields, many in display. Overhead 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were unusual whilst just one Common Gull remains on Big Pool.

Only 4 Stock Doves were seen in the field east of the Pine Belt. A count of 3 Blackcaps and 16 Chiffchaffs was made. A Treecreeper was watched probing for insects in the unusual location of a footpath sign post just next to Finch Hedge!

Bad news from yesterday when fellow patcher, Dave, sent me a picture of a predated Water Rail. This species has only just established itself on patch and now one of the few adults is dead. I have yet to check whether it's a bird or mammal kill but I suspect Sparrowhawk.

A brief morning visit, just to the mosslands taking two visitors for photography, sunny and warm.

A view distantly over Nunsmere Lake revealed 42 Tufted Ducks, there are still good numbers of these on patch. A Common Snipe was seen flying off into the distance before we even got to the mosses.

Some good birds to follow but today's highlight was a singing Willow Warbler from the Nurseries entrance road, heard on both sides including Shemmy Moss. Again good double-figure numbers of Chiffchaffs singing. This was the first of the year here (or anywhere for me). The male Stonechat was again on Abbot's Moss. The Cetti's Warbler was again heard in same area giving a brief snatch of sub-song by my mate Paul Hill. Again 2 Yellowhammers were seen as well as 3 Linnets and a Skylark was in song. Two Long-tailed Tits were on Shemmy Moss.

Had a mooch on patch this afternoon, warm, bit of sun, bit of cloud, bit of drizzle!

On Big Pool 6(2drk) Goldeneye today. On Shemmy Moss a Gadwall pair again. Today 4(2drk) Teal, made up of a pair on Gull Pool and a pair on Shemmy Moss. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over Abbot's Moss.

After a pleasant morning with a few stalwarts of Woolston Eyes I returned to my patch briefly this afternoon. The sun was clinging on but greyer clouds loomed overhead.

On Big Pool there was now just 1(1w drk) Goldeneye and duck numbers seemed reduced.

The best news was my first singing male Blackcap, seen well in pines on the NE corner of Big Pool. A count in a small area only gave 15 Chiffchaffs, so the whole patch total must be impressive.

In the field east of the Pine Belt there were 51 Stock Doves in the single flock.

A morning visit allowed me to check fields that sometimes have passage birds in them but nothing.  Fine, bright but breezy.

On Big Pool now 3(2drk) Goldeneye but little else of note.

In the fields east of the Pine Belt were 53 Stock Doves and 20 Linnets. Nearby in the Big Pool Meadows a Redwing came out of a low bramble clump again!

A pop down to patch am, sunny, warm-ish but windy.

On Big Pool now 3(2drk) Goldeneye and on Shemmy Moss there were 2(1drk) Gadwall. A Greylag Goose was on Big Pool.

A group of 3 Rooks flying over Big Pool was unusual. A flock of 18 Stock Doves was in a field east of the Pine Belt whilst a pair was on Shemmy Moss in Display Flight. A total of 45 Linnets included a flock of 30 in a field east of the Pine Belt and a flock of 15 on the Abbot's Moss Nursery Fields. Again more than 15 Chiffchaffs singing.

Spent all day on patch today, morning then lunch then back! Sunny and warm mostly.

On Big Pool the 5(2drk) Goldeneye permutation was present! A total of 4(3drk) Gadwall were seen, a pair on Shemmy Moss and 2 drakes on Big Pool. Teal were heard on Big Pool and on Gull Pool. An unusual Gull Pool sighting was 2 Greylag Geese, but these then flew off. A brief look produced 7 Common Snipe on Shemmy Moss. Muck-spreading in a field west of the pools attracted a few gulls and these included 2ad Mediterranean Gulls bathing on Big Pool. A Grey Heron was in the wet scrub area to the south of the Whitegate Way Gull Pool bench.

One of the most intriguing sightings of the day was a Redwing that flew out from inside a low bramble and perched just 10m away but didn't flush. If this had been a Blackbird then I would have said I had disturbed it at a nest site, added to the fact that this followed on from active singing by Redwings in this area earlier this month. A bit of research revealed (as I had expected) that Redwings nest in low dense vegetation....... Maybe the bird is just following instinct due to warmer days than expected for this time of the year and acting as it would on breeding grounds, I am under no illusion that it will attempt to breed!!

Also seen was a flock of 53 Fieldfares flying south over the north side of Big Pool. In fields to the east 15 Stock Doves were still present and 3 Feral Rock Doves flew over nearby. A Skylark was singing in the Abbot's Moss/ Nurseries area. In the muck-spread fields 2 Pied Wagtails fed on flies.

A male Yellowhammer was on Shemmy Moss as was a male Linnet. A female Siskin was in the now regular location for this species, near Big Pool Island Cut. In Gull Pool Wood 2 Treecreepers were watched foraging together, surely a pair. A Goldcrest was on the main track between the pools. A Great Tit was seen carrying food, most likely to be offered to its mate as this would be a crazily early brood. At least 7 Chiffchaffs were heard, but more will be around.

A good day with 54 species of bird recorded and a great array of non-avian sightings too.

A morning walk, dry and mild. A pretty flat day with the usual species only, local patching personified!

On Big Pool now 5(2drk) Goldeneye. A pair of Teal were seen on Shemmy Moss and another heard on Gull Pool. Just 3 adult Mute Swans. Did the monthly snipe count given the mild weather and recorded 25 Common Snipe in the usual area but no Jacks. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over Shemmy Moss.

A Raven was over Shemmy Moss as were 2 Buzzards in display. A group of 10 Feral Rock Doves over was unusual, this being my rarest pigeon! A male Siskin was by Big Pool Island Cut then flew back to the Pine Belt, potential breeding habitat.  On the mosslands 4 Linnets were seen together. A total of 3 Chiffchaffs was recorded.

Afternoon on Newchurch today, still overcast and dull.

On Big Pool just 3(1drk) Goldeneye of note. An Oystercatcher was heard over the Nursery Fields from the Whitegate Way.

A Kestrel was on wires on Sandy Lane. Just 2 Redwings were seen, in trees in the former Leek Field. At least 25 Stock Doves still fed in the fields east of the Pine Belt but spraying was happening and this was disturbing the birds. Also in these fields, getting disturbed, was a finch flock containing 25 Linnets. At least 2 Coal Tits were seen, one near Small Pool and one in Finch Hedge. Finch Hedge also contained a feeding Goldcrest.

Headed down on patch pretty early this morning and then again early afternoon, dull, overcast, cold!

On Big Pool the ever changing numbers mean that today there were 4(1drk) Goldeneye, the drake displaying to one female in particular. Also on Big Pool was a drake Shoveler. In the former Leek Field which was being worked by 4 tractors there were 360 Black-headed Gulls feeding, a spectacular sight, but despite several thorough searches no Med Gull!

A Raven flew over the paddocks near the entrance barrier calling. A small group of 9 Redwings including one singing its heart out at the top of an alder. I have noted Redwings singing on patch a lot recently and have been contacted by 2 mates who have had the same on their local area! Near Big Pool Island cut 2 Siskins still fed in the alders. A Lesser Redpoll was in a mixed finch flock visiting a small puddle of the main track by Finch Hedge. A Linnet also visited this puddle as did a Goldfinch. The finch flock was commuting between Finch Hedge and the adjacent field and also contained 3 Bramblings, one of which also visited the puddle. A female Reed Bunting was also in this flock too. In Finch Hedge above the puddle at least 4 Bullfinches were devouring blackthorn buds still.

Out a bit longer this pm, overcast, lots cooler and dark clouds on the horizon!

On Big Pool there were 4(2drk) Goldeneye, split into two pairs and all displaying. A lone drake Gadwall was also on Big Pool but that was about it for ducks. On Small Pool 3 adult Mute Swans were present, the resident pair plus one! In the former Leek Field which has been ploughed today a flock of 290 Black-headed Gulls was exceptional, but despite a search no Med Gull as I'd hoped. But approximately 25 Common Gulls were present. A flock of 50 Lapwings flew over the pools heading south.

There were still 3 Bramblings in the finch flock east of the Pine Belt. Also here in a single flock were 90 Linnets. A flock of 20 Fieldfares were seen in fields to the NW of Big Pool. In the former Leek Field 2 Pied Wagtails fed amongst the gulls. A species that I see almost every walk, Treecreeper, was in trees on the north shore of Small Pool.

Had a morning walk on patch which started early, fine and sunny again, lovely. 3hrs and 51mins walk, 5.57mls and 56 species, but amazingly nothing special!

On Big Pool 2(1drk) Goldeneye were now present, weird how it's toggling between 2 drakes and a pair!! The drake was displaying like mad at the female and they kept close company. Later there were also 3(1drk) Wigeon on Big Pool as well as 4(2drk) Gadwall. On Small Pool the highlight was a drake Goosander, new in, and to complete the 'winter' wildfowl Teal were calling on Gull Pool. As has happened a few times 2 Greylag Geese flew in and landed on Big Pool whilst I was scanning. For the first time in a while a Cormorant, resplendent in breeding plumage, was on the willow spit on Big Pool. There were 6 Lapwings in the breeding field by the Pine Belt, in display at times. A single Common Snipe was seen on Shemmy Moss. At least 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over.

A Raven was thermalling and calling with 2 Buzzards over the main track above Finch Hedge. In the fields by the Pine Belt a count of 68 Stock Doves was my highest ever single flock. Two sightings totalling 3 Feral Rock Doves included a single in display flight and a pair displaying, weird how this species is rare on patch! A small flock of 12 Fieldfares flew over near Totties Hall Farm whilst just 1 Redwing was seen, near Dairy Farm. A total of 2 male Yellowhammers was seen, one on Shemmy Moss and one at the Common Farm pheasant feeders. A male Reed Bunting was also on Shemmy Moss. On the nursery fields 4 Meadow Pipits were noteworthy whilst 2 Pied Wagtails were still near Common Farm. A Linnet was in trees off Novia Scotia Lane with Chaffinches while a Siskin flew over the main track south of Big Pool. A total of 17 Goldfinches included a flock of 15 over horse paddocks off Novia Scotia Lane. A Goldcrest was in trees by Dairy Farm, not an area I see this species usually. Close by one of 2 Treecreepers was seen, the other being in Gull Pool Wood.

Decided on a morning walk on the day that we only get once every four years!! Fine, mild, no wind, pretty nice to be honest.

The pools were a little more productive with 2(1drk) Goldeneye on Big Pool as well as 4(3drk) Shoveler and 9(7drk) Gadwall. All this was probably associated with females moving and strings of males following them! Teal were again heard calling on Big Pool. As I walked round 4 Greylag Geese dropped in onto Big Pool and brought a huge Canada x Greylag hybrid with them, bigger than both parent species - hybrid vigour and all that! A Cormorant flew over Big Pool, none have been down on the pool for a long time now. A walk over to Shemmy Moss added a new species for the patch yearlist in the shape of 2 Water Rails calling from one of their usual areas in the SE corner.

Another new bird was added, this time new for anywhere in the UK this year, Chiffchaff. A non-calling bird was catching small flies, of which there had been a huge hatch, in trees by the north side of Small Pool. In the fields by the Pine Belt a count of 55 Stock Doves in one flock almost equalled my maximum ever count made two weeks ago. In the former leek field good numbers of winter thrushes still fed on spilt maize, 120 Redwings and 4 Fieldfares were noted. In fields north and east of the Pine Belt Chaffinch flocks contained at least 1 Brambling and 1 Greenfinch, whilst nearby 18 Linnets were on telegraph wires. A Treecreeper was seen in a new area, by the main track just inside the entrance barriers with a Coal Tit at the end of Finch Hedge in the same vicinity.

Sunny and warm again this morning on my patch. I returned to the area that I saw the Mealy Redpoll in but maintenance work was being carried out so no chance! But still another excellent walk.

The 4(3drk) Goldeneye and 2(1drk) Goosander were still on Big Pool and I found 3(1drk) Gadwall today. A total of 106 Lapwings were seen including 2 displaying in their breeding field and 104 flying over Abbot's Moss in two groups. A Common Snipe was seen sunning itself out in the middle of Shemmy Moss.

With the fine weather it was a bit of a raptor-fest today. This included a new bird for the 2024 Patch List, Peregrine, a scarcity on my patch. It was seen over the fields on the north side of Big Pool being pursued by a Carrion Crow! The Peregrine just outpaced the crow for a bit for fun, and then turned on the afterburners and powered away from the corvid which gave up the chase! Also seen was a nice male Sparrowhawk, which landed in a tree east of the Pine Belt, giving great views to myself and fellow patcher Dave. Finally a tremendous count of 11 Buzzards was made, all viewed from the mossland tracks, perfect thermalling weather so not a great surprise really! Around 14 Stock Doves were seen today. A Raven and a Rook were over the mosslands. Again at least 20 Redwings were near the entrance barriers. A cracking wee Goldcrest was by Big Pool as were 3 Long-tailed Tits.

Had a morning stroll round my Patch, dull with sunny intervals and still mild.

The pools were incredibly quiet with whinneying Little Grebes on Gull Pool the best record! A Lapwing was on the deck in the arable fields east of the Pine Belt.

Over at Common Farm I recorded 6(3m) Yellowhammers now at the pheasant feeders. Nearby, closer to Totties Hall Farm were 4 Meadow Pipits, a patch scarcity but with more records this year than any other that I have recorded. In the same area a Feral Rock Dove flew over, another patch scarcity! In Gull Pool Wood and the former leek field the large flock of winter thrushes is still present, with an estimated 60 Fieldfares and 60 Redwings. In Gull Pool Wood Great Spotted Woodpecker was still drumming but even better 3 Treecreepers were seen including two which seemed like a pair. In the alders by Big Pool Island Cut 5 Siskins and a Coal Tit fed with a few Blue Tits.

Sunny at times and mild. Decided to walk my southern and western Patch boundaries as on a sunny Saturday it would be less busy, and it was!!

On the pools as I passed there were 2 drake Goldeneye, one on each main pool. My western boundary passes by Nunsmere so I cast a glance over the water there and saw 6(2drk) Goosander on this big water. On Shemmy Moss 2 Greylag Geese flew over.

Birds of the day were 4 Yellowhammers attracted in by pheasant feeders at Common Farm, a new patch bird for 2024 no less! A total of 36 Fieldfare included 31 over near Common Farm and 5 in hawthorns on the western patch boundary. A Pied Wagtail was on a Common Farm barn roof.

A morning visit today, dull but very mild.

A drake Goosander was on Big Pool as were 4(2drk) Shoveler. Teal called from Big Pool and Gull Pool. Two Greylag Geese flew off from Big Pool. Over the two pools 3 Mute Swans were seen with the pair on Small Pool in full on display. On Gull Pool 3(2m) Little Grebes were in a frisky mood, the two males fighting hammer and tongs whilst the female looked on. A total of 5 Cormorants were on Big Pool. A Grey Heron flew over Shemmy Moss. A 1w Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over Big Pool. A Kingfisher was on Small Pool still. A small flock of 22 Lapwings drifted over.

A Buzzard was in Gull Pool Wood. A female Great Spotted Woodpecker came up off the ground by Small Pool, unexpectedly out of a small clump of brambles! Nearby a Treecreeper was seen and a Nuthatch called. A total of 50 Redwings were in two areas, the former Leek Field and the field by the parking area. A Goldcrest flitted around the oaks just inside the entrance barrier.

An afternoon walk in unseasonally warm February sunshine.

There was no sign of the Smew in a good search of both pools by 3 observers today. On Big Pool 2 drake Goldeneye and a drake Goosander were present. Also on here were 2(1drk) Wigeon and 3 Teal, but a noticeable reduction in wildfowl. There were 2 Cormorants, one in stunning full breeding plumage.

A swirling flock of 40 Jackdaws was north of Big Pool. Close by were 35 Fieldfares with 2 Mistle Thrushes. Near the entrance barriers a small flock of 8 Redwings were seen. Two Stock Doves flew over.  In total 6 Bullfinches were recorded.

An afternoon walk in drizzle which was heavy at times.

The drake Smew was on Small Pool with 2 drake Goldeneye. A total of 14 (7drk) Goosanders were present, 4(2drk) on Small Pool and 10(7drk) on Big Pool.

There were several Song Thrushes in full song and a lone Mistle Thrush singing.

In the horrid weather everything seemed pretty flat so that's about it!

Had a brief morning walk in light drizzle just to check the situation with the star sawbill.

As expected the drake Smew remained on Sandiway Small Pool, but later it was nowhere to be seen, for a bright white bird it can hide away very well!! On Big Pool the 2 drake Goosanders were still present, yesterdays additional pair had flown off. Also on Big Pool were 3(1drk) Shoveler and 3(1drk) Teal. Again no Wigeon on either pool. An addition from yesterday were 6 Greylag Geese on Big Pool but midway through the morning these all flew off together. A Cormorant was an addition to yesterdays tally too. A first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull was again present. A Kingfisher was seen on Small Pool.

Another addition to yesterdays list was 2m Pheasants which flew across Sandy Lane. Finch Hedge delivered again with 6 Goldfinches, a Bullfinch and a few Chaffinches. Around 5 Redwings were also in Finch Hedge as we walked in.

A rarity for me - a Saturday morning on patch, but it's my first Saturday since retirement and as I worked every Saturday I thought that it would be nice to do a patch day at this first opportunity. Dull, drizzly at times but mild still.

On Small Pool the drake Goldeneye was back, but unlike last time I saw him there was no Smew! A single drake Goosander was on Big Pool as well as a drake Shoveler and a female Teal. A 1st-winter Herring Gull and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull were both down on Big Pool.

A Collared Dove was on Sandy Lane. Two Song Thrushes chased each other by Big Pool, another sign that breeding season approaches. A pair of Bullfinches were picking of buds in Finch Hedge, named due to this finch species in particular. In the field N.of Big Pool 2 Linnets were seen not too far from breeding territory. A single Siskin was in alders by Big Pool Island Cut.

Had an afternoon visit today, overcast but dry and mild.

On Small Pool the drake Smew showed well again albeit keeping well away from people as usual. A drake Goldeneye was on Big Pool. Other pool sightings included 8(6ad) Mute Swans, all on Big Pool, my highest ever count of adults on site. A female Teal was seen but more Teal called from cover. Only around 6 Wigeon were seen, a big drop in numbers compared to recent counts. There were 2 Cormorants on Big Pool too. The Kingfisher again showed well on Small Pool. A small flock of 13 Lapwings flew over the top car park for Small Pool heading south.

The best bird of the day was away from the pools. My attention was attracted to 2 Jays sounding really agitated and calling continuously in one particular spot. When I got to where they were calling, up the main track opposite Gull Pool Wood, a Tawny Owl flew out and shot silently past me and the Jays happy with their work headed off the other way, now not calling any more! This was my first Tawny anywhere in 2024! In the former Leek Field 8 Stock Doves fed in the maize stubble. On the main track a Lesser Redpoll bathed in a puddle, and 2 Goldcrests were seen, one in the same puddle as the Redpoll. A small group of just 4 Siskins fed in alders by Small Pool.