A grey miserable day but the dog still needs a walk so we headed up to Bolam Lake. Mute Swan and Mallard numbers continue to swell on the lake with both birds now in excess of fifty, and over twenty Canada Geese as well. Tufted Duck and Goldeneye were also in good numbers with a scattering of Teal tucked in the edges. A single female Goosander rounded off the busy lake alongside good numbers of both Common and Black headed Gulls.
The top car park was busy with Blue Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinch and at least 4 vocal Nuthatches making use of the seed on the wall. Heading out of the car park two squabbling Blue Tits plunged out of the tree landing in front of us and continued to squabble until the dog got too close and they finally separated.
The remainder of the woodland walk produced the usual species with Treecreeper, Great Tit, Coal Tit all easy to find. Crossing the west car park Bullfinch were heard but not seen. The south edge of the lake saw views of single Coot and Moorhen and then all the gulls went up off the lake as a female Sparrowhawk flew across. The final bird of the day was a Great Spotted Woodpecker that briefly drummed on a tree before flying away from the path.
