Southill area this morning

A good start to my usual walk around Southill when a male Tufted Duck flew over the garden with 4 Mallard - a new house bird (number 111 on the list). Then in Southill Millennium Woods a flock of 13 or 14 COMMON CROSSBILLS, 8 or 9 lovely red males and 5 females, one of them very yellow. They were giving great eye-level views in larches by the circular mound. Another new Southill bird for me, and some of the best views I've ever had of this species. A little further on at the second Premier Trees sign, a flock of 38 WAXWINGS appeared from the direction of the tree nursery and perched in the "usual" trees, and these were shortly joined by another group of at least 20, before the whole lot flew off into Southill Park. So, around 60 in the area. The fields north of Southill are hooching with birds, at least 800 Fieldfares, plus Redwings, Starlings, Linnets and finch flocks, including at least one Brambling. Small parties of Golden Plovers overhead, a flock of 1 20 Lapwings and 4 Tree Sparrows on the garden feeders. All in all, a great morning's birding! - Paul Donald

Not far away at Broom GP, Mark Thomas had 5 male BEARDED TITS