Snipe 31
Lesser Redpoll 40
Siskin 20
Goldfinch 60
Bullfinch 2
Goosander 1 female
Teal 4
Tufted Duck 7
Great Crested Grebe 13
Pink-footed Goose 100 (over N)
Cormorant 9
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 2
Treecreeper 1
Goldcrest 2
Coal Tit 1
It was dull and misty for most of the day, except for a brief period of blue sky directly overhead around 2pm. Numbers given above are generally a minimum. There may have been 40 Snipe, but I wasn't sure if I'd already counted a flock of 9 so I didn't include them and there were about 150-200 finches in the alders but they're so active, mobile and often silhouetted that an accurate count of each bird to species level is difficult and 40+20+60 is well short of 150, let alone 200. The Teal were under the trees close in to the island, and there could easily have been more than 4 given the relatively good numbers so far this winter, and Cormorants were coming and going all of the time and it's difficult to know how many individuals were involved. Definately only 1 Jack Snipe though, and it was a cracker, a nice and close view. Great bird! As for the Snipe, 31 or 40, it doesn't make a lot of difference, my previous best count at the mere was 10, so either smashes that record! A great couple of hours birding.
Female Goosander (today) and immature male Goosander (4th December) for comparison.
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