Red-throated Diver, Goldcrests, Snipe, Long-tailed Tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker
Had a fairly long walk this morning in very dull and slightly drizzly conditions. Not much to see and the light was poor. A few Long-tailed Tits were in the Willow patch and some Redwings around the top of big hedge. There seemed to be more Blackbirds in. On the reserve were the usual Teal, a Lesser Black-back on the exposed mud (water level is quite low) and a recent record of 9 Snipe on the stones. I found a group of 3 Goldcrests together, possibly a family party, and a Great-spotted Woodpecker perched on a thick stem in the bushes by the path. Quite a few Goldfinches in the tops of the Alders, but no sign of any Siskins. That was about it. Back home in the garden a group of 4 Greenfinches were in the trees at the bottom of the garden, with a Goldfinch.
Doing some DIY work in the afternoon, I had a missed call from Simon. When I rang back a few minutes later he said he was watching a Diver on the lake, but didn't have his proper scope and to be quick as it was looking agitated. I dashed to the Wine Press where he was standing and Alan Nuttall was already there. The diver was out in the middle, but the light was really poor. Managed to get some footage as we decided it was Red-throated, and it took off and flew round before landing again. My camera was struggling to focus due to the light and as I just got it in focus a third time, it took off again, this time circling higher and higher and eventually leaving hight to the south. It had only been there for around 20-25 minutes since Simon found it.