Barton Pits......

Comma.

Dark-lipped Banded Snail.

Green-shield Bugs.

Grey-dagger larva.

A morning free today,saw D.W. and myself heading for Barton Pits for a chan ge of scenery.We started off looking for the drake Ferruginous Duck on Western Approach Pit and sure enough he was sat in his favourite strip of reeds,preening.With the views into the rising sun,we decided to leave him and investigate the rest of the pits and Far-Ings.On arrival at Ness Lake,the best bird was our first Goldeneye of the autumn/winter period.This nice first winter drake gave great scope views,with his gleaming golden-yellow eye and subtle acquirement of bottle green feathering starting to appear on the ear coverts.Also around the pit,was a smart juv/1st winter male Sparrowhawk watched preening in the hedge opposite Ness hide,a couple of Reed Warbler and a Chiffchaff.Chowder Ness revealed 2 Juv. Grey Plover,which had me panicking for a few minutes,as the first bird was sat down amongst Goldies and was difficult to get a clear view in the blustery westerly wind.Nearby,Dave had glimpsed a raptor flushing a flock of resting Lapwings and it was quickly relocated flying over the nearby quarry,a Common Buzzard.It soon settled on the edge of the quarry in an Ash tree and we carried on our walk leaving him or her to rest.Overhead we had a few nice sightings which included several Siskin and a nice flock of 95 Pink's passing west up river.We eventually returned to western approach pit to look for the drake 'Fudge' Duck and this time he gave cracking close views in excellent light,what a nice bird!.On our walk around the pits we had encountered several nice insects which included 5 Green-shield Bug,Comma,Speckled Wood,Red Admiral,at least 25 Common Darter and a couple of Migrant Hawker and a stunning Grey Dagger larva.An enjoyable few hours out this morning.