Update for Carr Vale for 9th January is that the morning visit was pretty quiet although 134 Wigeon equalled the highest count of the year. Also during the morning two first winter Common Gulls, Barn Owl, adult female Peregrine, Marsh Tit, two Chiffchaffs and nine Bullfinches. During the morning just one Snipe was seen but the evening visit proved that a lot more were present when between 1650 and 1710 43 were counted leaving the southern reedbed. Previous counts at dusk had been c25 and 30 last week but these counts were made mainly on birds calling as they left under an overcast sky. On this occasion the sky was clear allowing birds to be seen as they broke the horizon and all bar three were seen whilst the largest group leaving was six. Interesting but better still was a Jack Snipe that also flew out over the reedbed screen (there may have been two and we didn’t get one last year, so a welcome sighting). Then late in the evening I got an email to say that a dog walk had flushed a Woodcock (well his Spaniel had) on the Peter Fidler Reserve in the morning. I think this is the first time that the three “common” Snipe species have been recorded on the same day at CV. Also that evening four Goosanders flew north, at least five Water Rails, one of which was seen, male Tawny Owl whilst back to the roost theme five Grey Wagtails flew into roost and 29 Yellowhammers were counted leaving the allotments, where they feed in the chicken pens, to roost somewhere south-east of the recording area. A very satisfying evening visit. On 10th 132 Wigeon, 22 Gadwall, two Goosanders, three Water Rails heard, 115 Lapwings, 140 Herring and 100 Great Black-backed Gulls, Barn Owl, Peregrine, the first Sky Larks of the year (flock of 13), species 79 for the year, Marsh Tit, two Common Chiffchaffs, the Siberian Chiffchaff but funnily enough just two Snipe. Overshadowing CV (again!) was Markham Vale where four Bearded Tits were (re-)found during the morning and a bit of late insect news is that a Red Admiral was seen in Shirebrook