Been staying up at Haverigg in Cumbria with family since the 27th December until yesterday. So i've been away from my computer hence my inactivity. But got a decent amount of birding time in especially around the RSPB reserve at Hodbarrow. The reserve is on the doorstep so I had a few nice early morning walks around there. There are quite a few duck of various species around there at the moment. With a few hundred Teal, Tufties, Pochard and Gadwall mixed together. There were the highlights as well...

We have had a fairly thin time with birding lately. Walks in the park have been rewarded with odd sightings of a Great Spotted woodpecker and the usual host of Tits.

Our plan to stay fit and healthy (and hangover-less) for the new year to allow a couple of long days out have been scuppered due not only to extreme weather but as my wife has hurt her back, we are grounded for the weekend.

I spent a little of the time watching over our small back garden, on the lookout...

Made another trip down to Far Ings on south side of the Humber Bridge, it has large reed beds and many areas of open water and good selection of hides. The weather was bitterly cold with light snow showers and heavy frost, most open water areas were frozen over.

Birds seen over the three days at Far Ings LWT and Waters Edge Country Park (28 - 30 December 2009).

Little Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Gadwall
...