Branton Ponds 7th January

Yet another dull,damp day but at least there are a few birds about.I walk around Branton Ponds this morning produced two pairs of Shelduck,the earliest record on the ponds for this species.Whilst watching an entertaining group of Long Tailed Tits I heard a thinner higher pitched call and noticed a tiny mouselike bird crawling up a tree,it was a Treecreeper.Another good sighting was a Barn Owl hunting the long grass in the early afternoon,an unusual time of day but could it be on a brood of chicks! or is it stocking up for worse weather to come?