The Big Freeze...

More local patch birding today after a brief visit to Barton(Seeing 1 redhead Goosander and a female Peregrine),i made it to the patch for 11.00 am.After putting back on the umpteen layers of clothing i began scanning the now white landscape for anything of interest,quickly seeing a couple of Barn Owls hunting,1 near to the car park which was carrying his lunch.It is amazing to see how well birds are lit up by the snow beneath them, i was watching a flock of Curlew flying about in the wet pasture,with their underparts gleaming white with reflection from the snow,making them look totally differant.Other goodies observed where a couple of Whooper Swan on a field just to the south west of the railway crossing with a group of 15 Mute's and nearby a female Marsh Harrier was watched hunting along the same fields.Also noticeable at the moment are the good numbers of Meadow Pipits which are wintering,with at least 20 birds being seen today,no doubt a sign of the overall warming of the climate,but it certainly didn't seem like it today!.Other minor highlights included a single male Bullfinch and a single Redpoll,both species not common down here,37 Snipe and a flock of 28 Corn Bunts,there was also 6 of the ever present Common Buzzards seen,my favourite bird by far.An encouraging 16 Brown Hare where observed today,lets hope they evade the coursers to breed next year!.A good few hrs despite the biting cold.