randombirder

 A rare free day and an opportunity to head to The Brecks - only an hour up the road but a great place to visit at any time of year but particularly early spring. On arrival, Lynford Arboretum was heaving with people with numbers increasing further throughout the morning. A bit of a scamper round provided views of a single hawfinch perched up high in the paddocks. The feeding area by the gate was a flurry of activity with a couple of smart brambling accompanying marsh tit , nuthatch , yellowhammer , and coal tit continually and nervously dashing in for seed. Across the other side of Lynford, the lakes produced my first drake goosander for over a year. Five crossbill flew over. It was generally very quiet here and sadly there were no signs of woodlark. The next stop was at Weeting, a ten minute walk the track to the clearfell where the continuing great grey shrike was still present and showing really well as it moved between the scattered trees. At least two goshawk were seen fr...

A bit of a charge around the periphery of London starting at Staines Reservoir where the American Horned Lark was showing really well along the bank of the South Basin.  Despite the bird having been present on and off for a couple of months, there was still a good crowd assembled there. A Black-necked Grebe was seen distantly bobbing away in the south-east corner of the south basin.  There were also a few Goldeneye on both sides of the causeway. I then headed up into Hertfordshire to the small village of Bramfield that as it's centrepiece is the fine 13th century St Andrews Church.  It was here where the Hawfinch had been a regular sighting.  After a short wait, a group of four flew into trees beyond the church.  They weren't close in by any means, but the views were just fine.