Blackwater Hawfinches 3rd December

The weather was mild and mostly sunny with a little rain. Highlights were Hawfinch, Brambling, Crossbill and Redwings.

A walk to look for the Hawfinches coming in to roost at Blackwater Arboretum. After seeing Nuthatch, Song Thrush and Redwing in the car park we walked down to Queens Meadow. 3 Fallow Deer were seen by some people on the way down there and we all saw a Buzzard soaring over the trees as a rain shower started. In the meadow there was a Grey Heron, a couple of Mistle Thrush and several Redwing, but no deer. We walked back to the car park and saw a female Crossbill in a tree. On to Blackwater Arboretum and we waited by the Hawfinch roost. Several Hawfinch came in and we got great views of them. We also saw a couple of Goldcrest, a Brambling, a few Chaffinch and a very tame Robin pecking at our feet hoping for crumbs!
Simon Curson.