It's been a rather slow start to the New Year, mainly due to the persistent mild, wet weather. I did make a reasonable start on the 1st though, with 65 species recorded but this included a visit to Carsington for the adult and juvenile Great Northern Divers plus a Jack Snipe, the regular Willow Tits there and an unseasonal Chiffchaff which is over wintering on Stones Island.
Chiffchaff
On the moors I've seen up to 23 Common Crossbill fairly regularly and one or two Red Grouse plus a regular pair of Stonechat and a mobile flock of up to 200 Brambling. Today was a better day though as I came across an adult male Hen Harrier hunting over the moor which was a fantastic sight, albeit rather fleeting and distant as is so often the case.
