We had just checked the 8 Bewick's and 3 Whooper Swans were still there when, the sound of calling Swans was confirmed as not just the ones of the deck as a flock of Bewicks Swans flew in - easy to count in the air - an amazing and additional 23!! Given the gloom, I hadn't even got my camera with me to record their arrival but here's a few of them settling down to feed in the kale......
(I nipped back for the camera to get a record shot)
Presumably these are the relocated Gailey birds? - 'Welcome to Shropshire' - stay as long as you like!
A call at Leighton didn't reveal anything of note. Venus Pool was nearly 100% ice still with a decent number of finches including Brambling in the top field. Priorslee lake was quiet and the only gulls of note were 1st Winter Common Gull and Great black-backed Gull at the Flash.
That well known SSI at Tee lake (Andy's garden and environs) allowed us to tick the only Redpoll of the day. A few Corn Bunting were predictably found in Isombridge lane and after a bit of a search, 2 Green Sandpiper at Mire Lake.
Haughmond wrapped the day up with one or two additional birds including Willow Tit, always a welcome sight in Shropshire!
It wasn't even a bird race (I might try one when the ice recedes) but totting up revealed a final tally of 62 species for the day!
Less words and more images may be the order of the day for future posts but today was all about birding! Happy New Year everybody.....
Oh and thanks to everyone for voting on the piccies - here's the winner for the year, the Kinmel Bay Snow Bunting.....
