On Burnett's Hill we were delighted to find a flock of at least 9 yellowhammers but even more surprised to see at least 2 tree sparrows with them - all perched for a moment on electricity wires before going to the ground to feed in a small weedy stubble field. There were a few skylarks and meadow pipits with them. We have walked this route regularly for at least 13 years and this is our first sighting in this area of tree sparrow. Being closer to home we hoped for a photo but although only returning 10 mins. later with a camera etc, there was no sign of them at all - they seemed to have moved on.
Our only other recent sightings of note have been two Gt Northern Divers off Cosheston Point on 23rd December (presumably birds that have been reported elsewhere in the Haven and other nearby embayments recently). There were also a few greenshanks in the general area.
If anyone would like to take part in the BTO Winter Thrushes survey, it's still not too late. For example there are still some random core squares we'd like to encourage folk to look at between 27th December and 10th January - for more information here is the link http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/winter-thrushes/survey-methods