Monday 11th January 2021 - Captains Pool and Stanklyn Fields

Today I started my walk with a visit to a still partially frozen Captain's Pool where 53 Black-headed Gulls and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull were stood on the ice. 

Black-headed Gull - 11th December 2021

Also of note at the pool was a single Grey Wagtail that was along the edge of the damn.  2 Coot, 3 Moorhen and 20 Mallard were also present.

At the fields the Linnet flock seemed slightly smaller today with around c.600 birds present.  This is not unusual as this huge wintering flock will often split into smaller flocks for a while to feed in the fields before massing together at other times.  Whilst walking along a single Linnet flew up and landed a short distance away.  It seemed slightly dazed and confused and wasn't at all bothered by my proximity to it.  

Linnet - 11th December 2021

Also of interest during the walk was finding some fallen branches at the wooded field edge that were covered in Jelly Ear fungus.  These gelatinous fungi can form very ear-like shapes as the grow.

Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) - 11th January 2021