A dank and dismal afternoon greeted the seventeen members who met at Pyrford Bridge. The unpromising conditions were initially matched by a paucity of birds until a Peregrine broke the ice atop a pylon in the meadow opposite the access path to the lake. Views of the lake showed a large number of Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull and many Coots. A few Mallards and Tufted Ducks were scattered around while a Grey Heron was on the far bank. Looking back from further along the path a Pochard came into view shortly followed by four Red-Crested Pochards, three handsome drakes and a striking female. In the fringing shrubbery was a small flock of Long-tailed Tits accompanied by a Blue Tit, a Great Tit and a few Goldfinches. Shortly afterwards a group of Gadwalls, three Wigeons and a couple of Great-crested Grebes appeared. Then it was off along the path to the farm which proved uneventful apart from a screech from a Jay. At the start of the farm track a Great Spotted Woodpecker was tearing into a dead branch with a Redwing for company. Greylag and Egyptian Geese were in the adjacent fields while a little further along a few of the group had a brief view of a Little Owl before it went out of sight. In the cattle pasture a Mistle Thrush was perched on machinery and a Pied Wagtail ran across the path. A distant Kestrel was also spotted on its perch. Activity across the water meadows was limited. A large flock of Starlings sat briefly on the wires prior to roosting. A Stonechat sat at a similar elevation while a cock Pheasant flew into cover but alas no Barn Owl. A species list of 43 exceeded expectations at the start.