Latest news from Carr Vale is that it’s been a long slow and unseasonally cool week. On 12th still present were seven Wigeon, 39 Gadwall, 28 Teal, two Oystercatchers, roostingTawny Owl and Peregrine whilst more notable species were ten Grey Lag Geese, a Golden Plover, 32 Fieldfare, a Redwing and a Redpoll. A partial breeding survey on this date produced 35 Wrens, 25 Robins, 20+ Chiffchaffs, ten Willow Warblers and 13 Blackcaps (all singing birds). Highlights for the past week included on Teal, 33 (max count for the week), a Curlew, a Common Gull and two House Martins the latter then seen almost daily thereafter. On 9th 260 Herring and 140 Great Black-backed Gulls plus two intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Water Rail, Siskin and Redpoll. On 10th 15 Common Buzzards, four more intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Common Gulls, Tawny Owl, Peregrine, single White and Yellow Wagtails. The 11th was probably the best day of the week with a male Mandarin Duck flying south, 45 Gadwall (highest count of the week), a Redshank (only third record this year), an adult Yellow-legged Gull and the first Willow Warbler of the year.