Cold weather movements.

We've had the coldest spell of weather for several winters. Temperatures have been below freezing in our part of Cheshire with snow and sleet falling as a result of storm Caroline passing directly over the UK and sucking down cold arctic air.

The cold weather has resulted in a big increase in the numbers of winter thrushes and starlings feeding in the field opposite the house. A nice surprise came yesterday in the form of a small flock of Snipe that had presumably moved from somewhere colder and spent the day feeding around the edges of the flooded pond.

I counted 9 in total but there may have been more hidden away. This is only the 2nd sighting of Snipe I've had since we moved in last December and the last bird was in the spring.

Number 97. Redshank

Following on from the recent Dunlin the wet field opposite the house has now attracted species No. 97 for the house and garden list. With the field being full of gulls after having farm yard muck spread on it I've been checking through them on a regular basis all weekend.  Friday afternoon I spotted this Redshank feeding around the edge of the pond and it remained all weekend.  Photographed at extreme range through the telescope- probably about 400 m!