Mixenden and Stodfold area

We headed down into the valley to check Stodfold and Mixenden Res'r and met Pete S on his way up having had a Wigeon on Mixenden, earlier.

The Wigeon had gone when we got there but the pines at the Stodfold end of the reservoir were alive with small birds looking like they had 'just dropped in'. There was a mix of phyllosc's mainly Willow Warblers and a Chiff-chaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 2+ Blackcap, Goldcrest, Blue /Great / Coal and Long-tailed Tits, 3+ Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Treecreepers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 or more Nuthatch and one largish very dark brown warbler which got away from us, unfortunately. There was so much happening in a small area it was unbelievable though they disappeared as quickly as they came. Some heading down the 'big hedge' and others through the tops of the pines into the main plantation.

Elsewhere there were a few Siskin down the lower end of the golf course on thistles then we just got back to the car as the thunder-storm broke.