An an almost verbatim report from our ex.Warden.
"Late this afternoon I had an excuse to drive from Southport the long way home via the Marsh, it was well tidy; in the wild bird cover I saw - c.450 Linnets, 30 Bramblings, 25 Chaffinches, 12 Corn Buntings, 1 Reed Bunting & 3 Lapland Buntings. A Sparrowhawk zoomed through a flushed everything - 2 of the Lappies flew off calling in the direction of HOM east. 10 minutes later a female showed well with the Corn Buntings in the Hawthorn hedge behind the pond - it also showed well on the ground. The Sparrowhawk was one of the sexy six, the other five being; Peregrine, Buzzard, 2 ring-tail Hen Harriers, 2 Kestrels, 3 Merlins. Also seen was a hunting Barn Owl and six Whooper Swans. Well tidy. Happy Christmas!"