A mixed weather morning with a few spells of sunshine along with several heavy showers of rain and sleet at 3 degrees on a moderate W>4.
During one of the particularly heavy showers a single Whooper Swan dropped in from the west staying on the water despite being mobbed by Common and Black Headed gulls. No big gulls today with just Mallards and 2 Cormorant on the water as well as the usual Canada with broken wing, whilst a Heron was on the far bank.
Two Barn Owls quartering the distant moor confirmed my suspicions that 2 were present on my last visit. Several Fieldfare and Redwing were moving around the fields closely watched by a Buzzard and Kestrel both perched on the dry stone walls.
Otherwise, down to the usual species making the first watch of the year an interesting one.
BS