My annual Christmas holiday outing out with a birding mate took us first to Swillington Ings to find a frozen over lake with only gulls standing on it these were mainly Black Headed Gull, Great Black Backed Gull with a few Herring Gulls thrown in. So the ducks were to be found on the river these included Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Red Breasted Merganser, Goosander, Teal, Gadwall,Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot the only raptor seen here was a distant Buzzard. As we made our way out Redwing, Blackbird and Fieldfare were encounted around the car park, a little further on near one of the footpaths Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, and a single Brambling.
On then to Fairburn Ings taking in first Allerton Bywater to see more Gadwall, and to add Shoveler, Kingfisher, Curlew, Blue Tit, Robin, to the day list. One of the main reasons to head to Fairburn was for the Owls that had been seen the previous weeks you’ve quessed it not today anyway we made our way along the river towards the centre and in doing so added a Smew [Redhead] to the day list. At the centre hanging around the feeders Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow, Bullfinch, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Collard Dove, Water Rail, Moorhen. Then it was a long walk back to the car at Lin Dike car park but it had its rewards with a party of Red Legged Partridge near the road side
Day List :-
Litte Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldedeye, Smew, Red Breasted Merganser, Goosander, Buzzard, Red Legged Partridge, Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Curlew, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Kingfisher, Wren, Dunnock Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Long Tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting
Huddsbirder 