Jan 23rd the last thrush

After a day of wader counting there was only 90 minutes of fading daylight left so I set off down East Marsh to check out the flock of thrushes seen going to roost in the distance a few days previously; there was always an outside chance of a hunting Short-eared Owl as well, albeit a very small chance given how rare the species has been this winter. The flooding in the stubble fields looks good for a Water Pipit should there be one in the vicinity. Then there it was sitting on the wires across the field a single Fieldfare number 103 for the year after 23 days on the patch. This must now be an unassailable January total given the very mild winters which means that all the scarce winter wildfowl are almost a thing of the past.