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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fozzybear" data-source="post: 1328622" data-attributes="member: 69297">A beautiful sunny afternoon today and I headed straight for the reserve when I left work at noon... I'm glad that I did.After seeing a jay at the outskirts of the reserve I walked into the wood along the rather churned, muddy path, turning off along the wildest small track along the edge of the reserve where the most birds seem to be found in the denser trees. I watched some rabbits at one of the many warrens and above in the trees were blue and great tits and a song thrush partly hidden in the depths of a hawthorn. Then at the top of a haw I saw a redwing! First time I've seen one but a bird I've been looking out for as I'd been told they were regular winter visitors. A short view before it disappeared but very welcome!Walking on a few feet I stopped again for a few minutes and noticed a goldcrest in the trees off to my left. Only my second sighting but a very, very good one! I spent quite some time following it with my binoculars as it hung from branches, pecking away at the bark, and it seemed to follow me as I moved on, as I ended up standing near the far-end tree with it hopping about only 6-8 feet away completely unconcerned by my presence - really, really wonderful!Heading on further I saw goldfinches gathered in a flock and heard robins singing from hidden perches, then stopped for a sandwich on a bench before walking beside the river to where the stallions graze in a meadow on the far bank. I scanned the meadow with my binoculars to see a number of moorhen on the grass and a grey heron in a watery hollow, and as I watched it more robins were singing from the bushes. Then a group of female pheasant appeared from the underbrush and started feeding in amongst the teasels. I see male pheasant quite often but rarely the females so it was a treat to see them.Turning to walk back into town I decided to strike off through the denser strip of wood that borders the neighbouring allotments and park, noting that I'd not seen long-tailed tits this visit... and as I thought it I heard a flock of them overhead! Wonderful to see them and I felt the visit was complete with their appearance. However, as I left the woods and walked their edge in the park I passed a stand of alder trees and noticed a flock of goldfinches so raised my binoculars to watch them... only to notice a rather odd goldfinch among them. Hmm, that's not right, it can't be a juvenile it must... then a yellow male appeared and I realised they were Siskins! Another bird I've never seen and here were a group of at least three or four who were hanging from the branches next to the goldies munching away on the alder cones. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I chatted to a passing dog walker and pointed out the siskins and as they flew off I headed back into town, very happy indeed!</blockquote>

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