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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fozzybear" data-source="post: 1990618" data-attributes="member: 69297">Very cold, frosty and misty on the Baddow Meads yesterday morning and as I emerged from the foot tunnel at the south end of the meadow I disturbed lots of Blackbirds, quite a gathering that chacked at me in disgust as they flew off in different directions. A big group of around fifty Goldfinches flew over my head as I crossed the brook and as I walked to the river I spotted a Sparrowhawk, flying low and fast towards the woods on the south-east edge of the meadow, a great ruckus going up as she hit the trees.Walking along the river I was amazed to see a Kingfisher heading west towards the town centre and away from the coast - I thought they'd all migrate off to Maldon with this freezing weather! Lots of Little Grebes were gathered in small groups here and there on the water and I spent some time watching them dive and then emerge with small morsels of food that they gulped down eagerly.At the town sluice Black-headed Gulls were gathering, at least fifty were on the water there and I watched as they kept tiny territories, stretching out in low aggressive postures to see off nearby gulls and Moorhens while others rose up on their wings to dive down immediately in search of food just out of reach under the water. I saw a Song Thrush nearby feasting on berries as Blue and Great Tits roved through the branches and in the Alders a wandering troop of Long-tailed Tits called to each other as they dangled from tiny twigs and probed into nooks and crannies.</blockquote>

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