Penelope pitstop

Managed a bit of time out for a lazy early afternoon trawl around the usual key spots.

Freeman's Pools: the regular 1stw fem scaup still present and showing well in glorious sunshine.
Otherwise, a male shoveler, a single female wigeon, 5 goldeneye (1 ad drake), 2 little grebe, 1 snipe, just 8 coot, 4 mute swans and a bunch of mallard made up the supporting cast.
Frog Pond: The highlight of the day was the unprecedented sight of 45+ wigeon on this smallish pool. I imagine they'd been kicked off the marsh by shooting activities. The regular mute swan pair were also here.
Wildlfowlers' Pools: Quiet, just 4 teal and a load of mallard.
30 or so meadow pipit & 1 pied wagtail were feeding on the wet fields. 4 snipe were in 'reedy corner'.
Very few passerines were noted along the cycle track. The number of blackbirds has really gone down and there are few tits and common finches to be seen or heard. Only the territorial robins and dunnocks are evident.
The tawny owl discovered by Guy last week was again at its roost.