The News

West Hartford @ 08:30 - One SEO, 50 Teal, gulls, other bits and a Roe doe off east.
Arcot @ 10:30 - 2 Goosander (F), 10 Wigeon, Teal, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Gadwall (1M:2F), gulls, corvids and tits.  A Roe pair with a smart buck and his new antlers growing quite nicely.

Arcot Wood (NE corner) - trees along the wee stream, 2 Willow Tits

West Hartford @ 13:00 - 2 SEO.

Plessey Hall Farm @ 14:00 - 100 Redwing and two truculent women, one the landowner's wife, who took the gloss off my exploration 'out west' by pestering me about why I was looking into their buildings.  Using my job i/d and pointing out the birds I was watching did little to calm them; blah-blah burglaries; blah-blah suspicious; and blah-blah private road!

CONE reserve @ 14:45 - tits, finches and a fox.

West Hartford @ 16:30 - quiet bar the Lapwings and Teal.  A chestnut-coloured, kestrel sized bird low and south through the small plantation on the east side of the access road (Woodcock?).  In the wood to the north, a large, brown bird flew from a tree and into the thick of it.  Looking like a SEO, it disappeared, only to fly out at the east end of the wood (and ID confirmed); calling as it rose up and flew east with its prey.  Bizarre!

Lights! Owt?

NO!

Stood at the top of Nelson Hill last night after 11pm, waiting for Aurora borealis to set the ol' ticker a flutterin'. 

It lived up its name, I am afraid to say, with the emphasis on the bore.

Plenty of stars and the odd whisp of cloud on on westerly breeze.  But the only Northern Lights were those over Bedlington!

Plastic? Fantastic!

Had three good hours this afternoon at Kirkley Hall Zoological Garden (unlike the song, we couldn't stay all day!).

Great little place, parking's good, staff knowledgeable and prices far from extortionate.  And some interesting creatures:

This is a recent venture, on a shoestring budget, and with loads of potential.  Support it, it's local!