Clifton, 25th Jan

I thought it was about time to get down to clifton for the first time this year, and was going to ride there, stopping off to see the Bewick's swans near Barton, but the bike got a flat tyre so i had to get a bus AGAIN.



The weather was pretty bleak throughout, although the sun did shine for a bit, but i got stuck in a heavy shower while at Holme Pit. Despite this i actually had one of the best days birding i've had in a while.



All was reasonably quiet in Clifton Woods on the path down to Holme Pit, although a few Goldcrest were noted, giving themselves away with their high pitched call, amongst flocks of Long-Tailed Tits (of which there were loads today). A couple of Jay were heard calling loudly too.



Holme pit was quiet, with only a few Tufties, Mallards and Coots along with a single Mute Swan. I stayed for a while, hoping for a sight of a Bittern, but wasn't in luck, although i saw a few Reed Buntings within the Reeds, which was good.



I then turned my attention to the flock of Greylags which had been reported to have contained a Pink-footed goose, but as they kept distant, in an inaccessable field, i couldn't pick it out, although the local feral Ross's Goose was present. Not seen him for a while! While watching, a group of around 40 Skylarks passed overhead, my first of the year.



I decided to go down to Branshill when the Geese flew off towards Attenborough, and on the way was treated to seeing 5 Bullfinch in the hedgerow, along with a few Greenfinch starting to sing (sort of). Over branshill moor all was quiet, except when a Kestrel flew along the woodland edge, causing alarm calls to ring from the local tit flocks. Shortly after a Mistle Thrush began singing for around 10 minutes, its voice echoing over the fields, starkly loud over the relative silence, beautiful.



I went to see what was on the riverside fields, and was pleased to find upwards of 500 birds feeding in the grass, comprising mostly of Startlings and Fieldfares, with the rest made up of around 100 Redwing. I watched and counted these for a while as they restlessly fed, making a lot of noise in the process.



Little else was noted on the way back, other than a Green Woodpecker, and over the Weir field, a flock of around 50 Linnet, sitting on a lonely gnarled hawthorn in the middle of the fields. They soon chattered off as i approached, but i managed to get good views of them through my scope.



I think on Birdtrack, it listed 42 species seen today, which is really good. Very happy with today, although the weather was awful!