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Message: <blockquote data-quote="halftwo" data-source="post: 1696713" data-attributes="member: 45720">Foxes On Ice, Birds GaloreDee Estuary. Thermometers showing zero - so much milder today as JB and I set out for the Wirral. With a bit of a breeze though it was parky at Parkgate.From the marsh edge the day almost started with a Merlin. It was being chased by a Crow - and, in turn, doing the chasing. Then a Kestrel began going for the Crow and the Merlin then attacked the Kestrel. From the relative sizes the Merlin must have been a male, though grey skies and distance showed no colours.Meanwhile a Peregrine was perching on a post way out in the marsh, eventually moving off to hunt, putting ducks, geese and waders up. There was already stirrings out towards the  estuary as, three times, Hen harriers - all ringtails -  were up and hunting. Ravens were passing overhead, Curlews back and forth, a Little egret came close by. Pink-footed geese in fair numbers were visible - heads  above the vegetation. Teal in tight flocks sped around; gulls patrolled.At Denhall Lane, further south along the marsh, things seemed quiet at first. But there was plenty of action - both near and far. Fieldfares, Redwings, Song thrushes and Blackbirds in good numbers, while Reed buntings, Linnets, Yellowhammers passed on occasion. Another Peregrine perched up quite close - then went low and fast for Wood pigeons - putting them to the sky and following, before all disappeared behind a tree. A Short-eared owl showed briefly and a Hen harrier hunted low over the marsh - Starlings, Skylarks, Snipe, Redshank and others shifting from the hunt zone. The trees behind were suddenly busy - tits and thrushes and finches - as several Lesser redpolls joined the crowd - giving excellent views. Kestrels scared thrushes with snails on the lane, when right overhead went a Woodcock!Last but not least: Inner Marsh Farm RSPB.Down in the copse an unfrozen woodland floor with a running stream. Crammed with birds. First up two Water rails together - showing close and well. A flock of Chaffinches, a flock of Siskins. Redwings and Blackbirds digging in soil, next to three Snipe, doing the same. A Bullfinch in the hedge, Reed buntings in the field, a Peregrine overhead, a Kestrel hovering, Buzzards circling, a Sparrowhawk hunting, a Nuthatch calling, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Linnets...but amongst the calls: Brambling.Back out near the field JB managed a great view of the Brambling, while I saw six Water rails more or less together - some squealing.I managed a brief flight view of a Brambling - but the flocks were moving on.From this viewpoint over the reserve we picked up the following scene. Two Foxes out on the ice - then, incredibly, a third - all chasing each other. We could hear them yelping at each other - then a pair suddenly were mating! Right out on the ice. A biting wind had sucked all remaining warmth from us - back to the car park, and the feeders there too were thick with birds. Two Greater 'peckers were amongst the crowds.</blockquote>

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