Following a request from the farm, John Wilson, Strinda Davies, Rhos Williams and 4 other folk pus the farmer and a ranger, did a 4 1/2 mile walk in the rain around the cold, wet muddy fields of Slade Farm this morning doing a bird survey in partnership with the farmer and his daughter. The weather kept small birds low but we logged and counted 27 species, the highlights of which were around 30 Yellowhammer, 50 or so Skylark [they were flushing up all the time], 20 Goldfinch, 30 Linnet, Reed Bunting, 5 Stonechat, 2 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 4 Common Gulls in with a resting flock of 23 Herring Gull, and 40 Rook. 5 Curew came out of one field too. Most surprising was what was almost certainly a Quail which flushed and flew low across a stubble field, but could not be relocated. We understand that some were introduced in a nearby establishment some time ago. It’s a bit late for a genuine wild bird. The tea and cakes at the end were most welcome!