RSPB Old Moor

Aren't Mum's great? When all your birding companions are at work, and you're faced with the prospect of going it alone, they offer to come out in the wind and cold and rain and keep you company, even when they would much rather be tucked up in the warmth at home.

So off we went to the RSPB's Old Moor reserve near Barnsley to brave the elements once again. The worse was the wind which in some hides was blowing straight in through the open windows so strongly and so coldly that it hindered seeing anything due to streaming eyes.

Not that there was anything overly exciting to see, but there were nice numbers of Teal, Wigeon, Goosander, Lapwing, Linnet, Gadwall, and Dunlin. The odd Redshank, a small and mobile flock of Starling, and big numbers of Cormorant also added interest. The highlight for both Mum and I however were the two stunning male Bullfinch and the single female which were making use of the feeders near the cafe, and which were causing lots of ooh's and aah's from those enjoying watching them.