Swiss Gardens LESSER SPOT

I succeeded in relocating the female LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER at Swiss
Garden today but no crests of any denomination were heard or seen. The LSW
was seen quite close to the "private - keep out" signed timber gate on the
right of the path from the roadside to the lake, i.e. on the north side of
the lake - this was just before 1pm. I got JG onto it and we watched it for
several minutes (and even took a couple of appalling record photos with my
pocket Lumex) before it flew east a 100m or so and we lost it to view just
as TP strode up to join us. Several Redwings were hereabouts and some
Siskins - the Snow Drops are looking great. A couple of Treecreepers and a
Nuthatch showed but tit numbers were low during my noon till 1.35pm visit.

After a satisfying GMG hot dog, I drove back to Kempston seeing a Red Kite
as I passed Sheerhatch Wood but then not finding, again, any Mandarin at
Kempston Mill tho' 40 Mallard were along the river here.

Martin J Palmer