Babbs Mill Local Nature Reserve.

Nice to visit Babbs Mill Local Nature Reserve for the first time in a while this morning, where it wasn't particularly cold but it definitely had a wintery feel, it's always great to see the trees in full bloom and colour but they also have a different kind of beauty at this time of the year with the gothic vibe when they are bare.

I didn't realise until I got there, but there is a run around the lake on a Saturday morning, which has the unfortunate side effect of all the extra activity not being conducive to the birds and wildlife, don't get me wrong though I'm not complaining about the runners as they were doing what they want to do and is actually beneficial to them, it was just a bit regrettable that it put paid to seeing any birds such as Redwing and Fieldfare foraging on the large expanses of grassy areas, on the plus side it did mean that most dog walkers actually had their dogs on a lead for a change.

I had a little venture into the Yorks Wood to leave some windfall apples for the Blackbirds and Thrushes etc, in the woods there were at least three Great Spotted Woodpecker, all pecking away looking for hidden insects or maybe checking out potential nesting sites, there was also a lovely mixed flock of Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long Tailed Tit with the latter being the largest in number, obviously there was also good amount of Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock and Wren seen foraging around on the floor, in the trees there was more than one Song Thrush in full song, which was a pleasure to hear.

The lake didn't have hardly any winter visitors which was a shame, in fact the only bird out of the ordinary was Wigeon, they were still great to see all the time, at least for the birds that were there most of the lake was unfrozen for them.

Birds seen this morning were, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Parakeet, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Domestic Goose and Canada Goose.