Elveden - Centre Parcs

Just got back from Easter bank holiday at Centre Parcs, left Friday morning and am now exausted after a non stop four days. It was great fun and although i had been before i was 19 and now being 41 its changed and as such the activities we were involved in had changed too; pony trekking, easter egg decorating, roller skating; a kids based few days.

However the pony trekking was over by the Country Club and as such i took my binoculars as the hide is there to. After both the ponies had all been fed, patted, photographed and ridden the other half and kids went in the Forresters Inn for a drink and play in the activity centre; i took my leave and headed off.

What a great little hide; situated on the edge of a large pit which slopes away from you the deepest section is probably 30 foot lower providing great views from all angles. The ranger had placed numerous feeding stations up with mixed seed, niger etc and the whole place was busy, very busy.

Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch all over the place. Blackcaps viewable from both sides, males happily singing away. Male Pheasant, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker.

A lot of Siskin coming regularly to the feeders close to the hide which gave me my best views of this bird.

One dodgy little iphone photo.

At the back if the pit i managed to find three Willow / Marsh Tits; no idea on what, i probably at the moment couldnt tell the difference if they were a foot away without hearing them. Luckily one did land to the right of the hide, fly to a frow to the near hide feeders and then call...Marsh Tit; a life tick.

At the back i caught a few male Chaffinches and then two male Brambling both in non breeeding plumage followed by a female, another life tick. A male Bullfinch as well. Loads of Jackdaw soon scattered by two Muntjac deer.

As well, i got my longest views of a Lesser Redpoll and could spend some time looking at it properly; hopefully the time on this bird will help if i ever come accross a Mealy.

All this in 20 minutes; other birds - Coal Tit, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coot, Moorhen, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Canada Goose, Chiffchaff, Collard Dove, Dunnock, Wren, Greylag, Jay, Kestrel, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon and 19 unringed, not winged clipped and according to staff free to come and go as they please Barnacle Geese.