Babbs Mill Nature Reserve, Solihull.

I thought the last trip out for 2014 would be to Babbs Mill Nature Reserve in Solihull being as I haven't been there very often this year, which was just as well because everywhere looked great in the early morning frost.

Highlight of the day had to be seeing a pair of Goldcrest, unbelievably I've seen a pair of Goldcrest on the last four visits out, something of a record for me, that's with also having a pair visiting my small garden in Birmingham, talking of my garden it's worth mentioning as well as record numbers of Tits visiting I also had a female Blackcap taking advantage of one of the suet cakes hanging in my apple tree. It was also nice to see a huge flock of Goldfinch in the car park, hard to tell the count exactly but they were in the hundreds feeding in amongst the Silver Birch, it was great to also see Greenfinch, Bullfinch, House Sparrow, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and Widgeon.

I also spotted a Buzzard being mobbed by a lone but very plucky Carrion Crow, unfortunately it it did was chase into the Yorks Wood which is heavily polluted with songbirds.

The only downside was seeing the lake almost completely frozen over, I know it's natural but I don't like to see the waterfowl struggling also for some reason they were fighting a lot more than usual today probably because there was a lot less space to move about in.

Birds seen today were Buzzard, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, House Sparrow, Robin, Wren, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Widgeon, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Domestic Goose and Canada Goose.

I hope everyone who takes the time out to read this blog has had a nice Christmas and you have a great New Year !  

My first trip out of 2015 will be Kingsbury Water Park on Friday all being well.