Raw is the word but not as bad as heading towards Farmoor where increasing hawfrost precipitated an about turn. At Radley, all water bodies frozen excepting about western fifth of Thrupp Lake and some deep chanels under heavy willow growth and peaty ground in the plantations, but no Water Rails heard or Woodcock flushed. Quick circuit of area found single Blue Tit and Robin, a few Blackbirds and couple of Song Thrush and around 50 Fieldfare and Redwing feeding on haws. As ever two flocks of Long-tailed Tits, which 'alarmed' a glimpsed Sparrowhawk.
Thames found to be still flowing where 43 Greylags, 6 Mallard and single Cormorant and Grey Heron were all very skittish, whilst all arboreal Wood Pigeon appeared moribund.
Back at Thrupp; Teal: 240 counted from east side earlier but later dusk flights to SW must have totalled well over 300(?). Similalry, 5-6 flights of Mallard to SW probably totalled 30.
Pintail: 4 male & 1 female
GC Grebe: at least 1, along with 1 Grey Heron and uncounted Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted, Pochard, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Canada's, the relocated Greylags and Moorhen around the islets, which also hosted a Robin.
Gulls at roost very skittish as ever and many birds not landing but continued northward, leaving around 1200 large gulls and 300 Black-headed at 4.30. Just 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were the main interest in the eye-straining murk. The gulls must be keeping the water unfrozen in part, but that don't help the increasingly absent passerines ...
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