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Message: <blockquote data-quote="halftwo" data-source="post: 1348480" data-attributes="member: 45720">Waxwing and MoreSplintering frost and dangerous roads, but just around the corner perched prettily in crackling light - a Waxwing!Soon seen off by a Mistle thrush - but not far - showing off atop a tree and down to more berries. Moving on I lost it - but the news was out and it was later refound nearby. And so to patch proper. Inch thick ice which holds my weight and crusty sod ungiving to the boot, all grass white and crystallised, snapping at the passing.  Cormorant and Teal share the river. Snipe are calling. Out across frozen fields punching through brittle furrows, panes of ice shattering.  At a ditch a Water rail is surprised and stops on the bank top to allow excellent views for seconds, long red legs and toes gleaming wetly.  Larks and buntings and finches move around with thrushes along hedges. A Buzzard goes from a bush flashing pale underwing against the sun. A single Stonechat on a series of corn stems bobs along and keeps its distance. Sixteen Golden plover whip across the dazzling sky, but keep going.Back in the frozen flood of the field Snipe are rising high into blue as I step; then from a foot, almost underfoot a Jack snipe gets up and uncharacteristically flies some distance before resettling.A Bullfinch whistles along the row of hawthorns and, back in the willow wood, a Great-spotted woodpecker is hacking noisily at bark.  Back at the Waxwing trees there is no sign, but the Mistle thrush remains.</blockquote>

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