Kingfisher, 2 Jays, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, 6 Tufted Duck, 8 Wigeon, Buzzard (H), Shoveler
A pleasant walk this morning in the sunshine, although there was a stiff NW breeze. Fairly quiet on the bird front but busy with people. A Chiffchaff called from the reserve and two Jays flew left to right over the willow patch. A Goldcrest was feeding in the bushes to the left hand side of the big hedge, and on the reserve there were a handful of Teal and 6 Tufted Duck. I heard the Kingfisher, and there was nobody in the hide so I settled in there for 15 or 20 minutes. I could hear the Kingfisher again but couldn't see it and then suddenly it appeared just the other side of the spit, perched in a willow. Then it flew onto a post a little closer and I got a short clip of video before it flew off again to the right out of view. After a couple of minutes it came back to the bushes at the back of the reserve but then disappeared again so I moved on.
Walking through the wood and out the other side, there were no birds of interest; a Heron sat on the jetty near the old sea cadets hut. I walked up the track to the farm and across the fields to Bib Knowl and onto Shaw Moss. A Buzzard called but I didn't see it. Just a few Teal on Shaw Moss but little else. As I walked back towards Peanock Farm, I noticed three Cormorants flying towards the lake, one carrying a fish in its bill. Shortly afterwards I noticed a small party of ducks flying around high over the water, and on closer inspection these appeared to be 8 Wigeon.
Little else then before returning home.
Went for another walk in the afternoon, doing the reverse route. 4 Mistle Thrushes near Shaw Moss, but precious little else. At Bib Knowl wood, two Jays were very vociferous. Two small thrushes flew overhead, could have been Redwings, but may also have been Song Thrush; couldn't tell. A few Willow/Chiffs were in bushes on the land from Turnough Farm down to the Sea Cadets hut, but nothing else. A female Shoveler was on the nature reserve, preening, along with a few Teal and a handful of Tufteds. Walking back along Rakewood Road a couple of Grey Wagtails flew up from the overflow drain.