BAH!...HUMBUG!...

Not a new addition to any list for ages, with Neumann's a skating ring (above) most of the ducks etc have moved to the mere. One benefit of this mini ice age is the M6 wide footpath around Neumann's and Ashton's is a solid ice sheet hence no bloody joggers, pram pushers or anyone else for that matter can get round safely without doing a 'Dancing on Ice' impersonation.

The regular goose flock which is now subject to being harassed by the local dick of a farmer with his shotgun are attracting other geese such as these 3 Pinkies that popped in just before xmas. Still not seen Barny this year on the patch but did catch up with him at Sandbach on our epic all conquering Cheshire Daylist.

One of the many Harnsers (old Norfolk name for Grey Heron) waiting patiently for the ice to melt on the mere, he might still be there in March if this so called global warming continues.

So as theres pretty well not much chance of anything else turning up before the 1st January heres the scores on the doors...

PATCH YEAR LIST 2009...133 (95.7% of total) highlights - REDSTART, SPOONBILL, HAWFINCH.

Other bygone years

2008 - 144 (93.5%) BLACK-WINGED STILTS

2007 - 132 - NOWT

2006 - 150 -RED NECKED PHAL, WWBT, TEMMINCK'S STINT, HEN HARRIER, LITTLE TERNS
2005 - 124 -PEC SAND, WAXWING, WHISKERED TERNS
2004 - 143 - WHITE STORK, GREY PLOVER, RBM (sorry Fred)

2003 - 131 - FIRECREST, GNDIVER, SLAV GREBE, BRENT GOOSE

2002 - 143 - GRANVILLE THE GREAT WHITE EGRET

It looks like theres a sort of pattern forming here, a good score 140+ followed by a crap one the next year so 2010 is looking promising what?...look out Gregs!