Utch 6/2/10 1400-1620.

Hey up folks, well that late start cost me today! Huge numbers of Pinkies on the move again through Staffordshire today. A text message from Mad Malc' sayin' he'd had a large skein go over Hawks' followed by one from RP sayin' he'd had around 300 go over as he stepped out of the front door at Powells Palace were the first signs of a big day. From then on it was an almost constant stream of messages on the pager with movements of Pinkies through Gods Own County. Highest count of the day went to Westport Lake with 1650 over followed by 900 over Keele, 500 over Audley, 300 over Cheadle and 98 over Silverdale.

No sign of any Pinkies on the move this a'noon at Utch but the 6 from yesterday which flew off north were back with the Greylags, feeding in fields between the Rivers Dove and Tean. Three Oystercatchers at the far end of the main pit were the only birds of note today apart from the pinks.

Oystercatcher 3

Pinky 6

Goosander 23

Wigeon 148

Tufty 87

Pochard 14

Cormorant 45

Strollin' back along the Tean me and The Mad One bumped into RP who'd been prospectin' around one of his secret sites. I mentioned the Woodcocks at Woodhead and the Earl of Teanford decided to join us for a torchlite vigil as we went in search of the 'cocks!

Almost as soon as we got out of the car at Woodhead RP picked up a Kingfisher as it flew across the small pool. Then two Goosander flew over! Not bad for the first five minutes. As darkness fell RP plugged himself into his phone as he waited for the final score of his beloved Brewers match with Burslems finest Port Vale. Then James Alexander Gordon told him all he wanted to know, the Brewers had beaten the Vale!!!!!!!!!!!! No tremblin' voice this time like when he found Fergal the Fudge Duck just a couple of "get in there's" and gloatin' texts to vale fan Sylvia Staffs were enough for my Old Burtonian pal.

Darkness fell and still no sign of any 'cocks, then as we headed back to the car we picked up first one then two, three Woodcock as they flew overhead and dropped into the newly silaged field.

That's all folks.