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Robins

The fat feeders have attracted several robins. In the back garden we have distinguished three individuals, not so sure about the front although we have had a blue tit on that feeder. Nothing has been observed going to the peanut feeder at the back.

A walk today by Bottom Lane and Trapps Lane to Waterside revealed little in the way of birds although at one point there is a fantastic view across the Chess valley with most of the housing hidden in the folk of the hill. The river itself is flowing well below the junction with Moor Road, I am not sure where all the channels go across the moor but there seemed to be a heavy flow coming from a culvert and nothing coming through the old mill leat across the road. This may come from a spring or borehole as the flow upstream from this point is negligable. There was sufficient water for a group of mallards to swim but above the moor the flow became very slight and sluggish.

It was nice to see a wren when walking up Duck Alley but there was no flow visible from the culvert that runs under the High Street. At Water Lane the river is pretty well clogged by weed, there was nothing coming down the channel from Pednormead End and the spring by the Water Meadow car park seems to be the highest source of water at the moment.

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