Sunday 11th November

I managed a couple of hours at Ditton Quarry this morning, spurred on by a report of at least one Hawfinch still present on Saturday afternoon. A 2 hour search failed to relocate either bird, but good numbers of Goldfinches were present feeding on the Alders in the SW corner of the site. Scanning through them I managed to see 3x Lesser Redpoll (see how one melts into the rose bush in attached photo, almost camouflaged) and 1x Siskin (rather poor photo) , quite a result as I've not had either species anywhere else yet this winter. A flock of Long-tailed Tits flitted through the shrubs in the same area, accompanied by a a couple of Great Tits, a Blue Tit and two Goldcrests, but nothing rarer. Up to 6x Bullfinches were seen, quite a common bird on this site, although often heard lisping rather than being seen.