New Year's Day at Linacre

A 2 hour walk first thing this morning got the new recording year off to a good start. Despite the weather; grey, overcast and drizzly and a lack of much ice- free water, I managed to see 28 species, including  a great count of 85 Mallards, 31 Black-headed Gull, 6 Moorhen, 11 Coot, 11 Tufted Duck and 5 Mandarin.

Small birds were much in evidence, the highlight for me being a tiny Goldcrest, feeding in the conifers.

Two bird of prey species were noted, namely a male Sparrowhawk "flap, flap, gliding" over the top reservoir and a Buzzard flying through the beech woods.

Common Buzzard

All in all a great start to 2011.  Happy New Year to everyone who knows me and good birding!!!