Geese again

Today Dawn (above) to dusk all over with Hazel. A bitter frost overnight had left the still water frozen but there was plenty of bird activity with 13 White-front including at least 6cy birds on Mappins fields between dawn and about 10.00 when I met up with Geoff to look around Horse-eye Green where there was a Bittern yesterday, alas no joy but 2 Jack Snipe and a squealing Water Rail were some compensation. Another Jack Snipe was seen on Down Level with Henry. Also 23 Snipe, a ringtail Harrier, 4 Marsh Harrier including a male on Down, Sparrowhawk, 80 Wigeon, 60 Teal, a Water Rail seen on Down, and winter thrushes a plenty.
On Friday (20th) a couple of Marsh Harrier on Horse-eye and I took some time to count some thrushes with some interesting results. I have had a feeling that there are a lot of Song Thrushes around and my count seems to back this up with 55% of the two feeding flocks I counted being Song Thrushes - they just seem to be in every field, hedgerow, and reed bed at the moment! Unlike SEO of which I have seen none this week... On the raptor front there is an absolutely stunning chocolate brown Buzzard around Lookers at the moment, well worth scoping.
No mothing yet this year - too cold, however on the mammal front 8 Fallow Deer (all does) near the observatory yesterday (21st), Red Fox on Horse-eye this morning, and Brown Hare on the WEBS last weekend.