Acres of mud and hardly a wader to show for it sums up the past week or so at Carr Vale. Of the regular birds Canada Geese maximum was 185 on 21st, Gadwall maximum count was 29 on 14th, Teal increased to 18 on 22nd, Mallard maxed out at 70 on 21st, up to four Snipe were seen and up to two Water Rails showed regularly including the first adult for some time but still no Spotted Crake despite the pools being in fantastic condition----one day!. More interesting records included 25 Red-legged Partridges on 15th, Green Sandpiper on 18th (and 22nd), Peregrine on 18th, ten Yellow Wagtails on 20th, a juvenile Marsh Harrier on 21st when the first Tree Pipit of the year flew south and two Peregrines (both juveniles M and F) were on the ground and two Tree Pipits on 22nd.