Four hardy souls joined a damp walk around Horsell Common (more accurately water meadows). Luckily the worst of the rain held off, with just intermittent drizzle. 

The wetland area was quiet, with only Canada Geese, a couple of Cormorants and a single Moorhen. The meadows each side of the Bourne were semi-flooded, with large flocks of Black-Headed Gulls, more Canada Geese, a pair of Egyptian Geese, a pair of Mute Swans and Mallards on the water. There were also plenty of Jackdaws, Carrion Crows and Magpies in the fields, along with numerous Wood Pigeons and a few Starlings. A nice surprise was an active feeding flock of around 20 Pied Wagtails. The hedgerows held a number of Robins, Wrens, Blue Tits, Great Tits in good voice, and a flock of Long-tailed Tits. Thrushes were represented by a nice flock of Redwings, a single Fieldfare high in a tree, and a Song Thrush heard but not seen.

Due to the damp, blustery conditions and the amount of standing water, the open heathland was omitted from the itinerary in favour of the mixed woodland and adjacent grazing. Several more Redwings were active in the trees, and a flock was foraging in the horse fields, accompanied by a briefly seen Mistle Thrush. A Blackbird and Jay added to the thrush and corvid count and there were more mixed groups of tits including a single Coal Tit, accompanied by a Goldcrest. A Red Kite over the car park completed a quiet but pleasant walk and a species count of 28.