Dormans Pool - 8.45am - Stonechat by bottom car park.
Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park - 9.30 am - 18 members turned up for the TBC escorted walk led by Dave Nelson on an overcast but fine morning. Car park tables held the usual selection including around a dozen Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Dunnock, Reed Bunting, Robin,Blackbird, Great and Blue Tit and a couple of the group saw a Brambling visit the tables. A GSW was seen twice in flight as we headed over to the lake. A small flock of finches were in the trees between the small hill and visitor centre - mostly Goldfinch with possibly one Redpoll amongst them. The RN Duck was still on the lake along with Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Pochard, Mallard, Mute Swan pair, Coot, Moorhen and several BH Gulls. As we left the lake two Canada Geese flew in landing on the water. We headed up Claxton Beck to the cycleway turning left back towards the car park seeing very little other than a few distant LTT and two pheasant until we reached the path along the upper reaches of Cow Bridge Beck where a finch flock c.100 was feeding in the trees. The light was pretty poor but it contained at least Goldfinch and Siskin though I wouldn't be surprised if a few Redpoll were there as well. There was no chance to get a closer view as the flock moved on. We continued along the cycleway back to the car park with a brief look in the feeding station - but with no food there were no birds. Thanks Dave for a very pleasant couple of hours.
RSPB Saltholme - pm - Haverton Scrub - LEO x2, Green Woodpecker seen and heard several times. Redwing c.12 & Mistle Thrush x2, Song Thrush x1 in trees alongside the Community Farm. Female Kestrel. Heron and Tufted Ducks on the small pools.
