Visited Bradiford reserve this morning early, but was surprised to see a squad car and two policemen looking over the gate! They were watching some shooters in the fields just over the river on the far side of the reserve. Fat lot of good providing a refuge for birds only to find that shooting is permitted just over the river. No doubt where the birds they would be shooting would come from! And I've also no doubt that that their dogs would be sent into the reserve to collect any birds that fell in the reserve...... I didn't stay to see what happened.
Went later to Velator and found the reserve pond swamped with Canada Geese, scores of them! They soon flew out into an adjacent field! Quite a few Redwings present with all the Finches.