Another pleasant morning to be up on the tops with a light SW>3 at 5 degrees and 80% cloud with good visibility.
The November depression is still hanging on up there, as every year, and just the usual suspects showing with the usual Buzzard, Kestrel, Stonechat and Canadas with the addition of 71 Starling in migration mode >NW, probably heading for the Blackpool pier winter roost whilst a flock of 87 Woodpigs headed >SW. These being either late movers from further north or a local roost breaking up.
A mid afternoon study of the winter Chaffinch flock at Ogden found around 70% of the males being of the Scandinavian continental race 'coelebs' rather than the British race 'gengleri '. These continental males show very pale pink underparts with a faint white V shape marking on the belly plus the mantle is plain brown. The easiest way to distinguish these are by checking through the flock where the difference of the two races stand out. The female continentals are indistinguishable on the field.
Several of the Chaffinch are now feeding in the Beech trees giving a greater chance of Bramblings joining them.
Looking like some wet and windy weather from the south tomorrow.
BS