2nd January

Still cold but nowhere near as frosty as the last couple of days so it back to mid-winter mediocrity on the birding front. The one positive was the appearance for the year list of the Rosy Starling that was Blacknor first thing in the morning before returning to its well-provisioned garden at Easton. The only other reports were singles of Blackcap and Chiffchaff at Southwell, 6 Purple Sandpipers, 3 Redpolls and a Merlin at the Bill and 6 Red-throated Divers through on the sea at the Bill.

Sparrowhawk at Southwell today © Pete Saunders: