Holywell Birding

First visit to Holywell in the New Year, arrived at 14:30 to find a 90% frozen pond, and BD with ' You've just missed an adult Iceland Gull', no worries. It was calm, although the sky was covered with dark snow clouds awaiting to break there seal.

Walking down there was the regular Starlings, House Sparrows and Collared Doves. The West field held 60+ Pink-footed Geese, about 10 Greylag, and a large number of Gulls. Three small pools of water in front of the members hide held the remaining waterfowl, a pair of Mute Swans, and 30 Mallard, with the ice providing footing for, 11 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 8 Carrion Crow, Magpie, 42 Great Black Backed Gulls, a large number of Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull and a lone Common Gull. The feeding station was resonably busy with, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, a male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a few Reed Buntings.

1 Skylark was picked up by BD flying in front of the hide, then minutes later a large flock of 100+ birds, which landed in the meadow by the public hide. We left the members hide to warm our feet up, as we walked up the path the characteristic whistling of Wigeon was heard behind us, at the pond, after a scan 30+ birds were picked up circling the pond, trying to land on one of the three pools. 13 Common Snipe were present at the public hide.

A walk down to the backtrack produced nothing further of note.

It was good to be back.