Local birding New Years Day

I began the day with a mid-morning visit to Maple Lodge Nature Reserve and Lynsters Farm where the following species were encountered:-
Little Grebe (2), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (2), Greylag Goose (9 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (49 Lynsters Farm), Egyptian Goose (11 Lynsters Farm), Eurasian Wigeon (2 Lynsters G.P), Gadwall (15), Common Teal (18), Mallard (8 including a copulating pair), Northern Shoveler (1), Tufted Duck (38), Common Buzzard (1 mobbed by Carrion Crow), Common Moorhen (4), Eurasian Coot (21), Green Sandpiper (1 Lynsters Farm), Black-headed Gull (c100 over from sewage works), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 over), Herring Gull (1 over), Feral Rock Dove (c50 Lynsters Farm), Stock Dove (4 plus c30 Lynsters Farm), Woodpigeon (2), Collared Dove (1 Maple Lodge Close), Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Green Woodpecker (pair), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Meadow Pipit (11 Lynsters Farm), Pied Wagtail (2 over), Wren (1), Dunnock (2), European Robin (3), Common Blackbird (2), Song Thrush (2), Redwing (2), Goldcrest (1), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie (5), Western Jackdaw (c80 Lynsters Farm), Carrion Crow (5), House Sparrow (2 Maple Lodge Close), Common Chaffinch (16), Eurasian Siskin (7), Lesser Redpoll (6).

                                         Green Woodpecker (female) from Rotunda Hide.

After an early lunch I headed off with my daughter to Stockers West (Inns Lake) where the male Goosander was again seen although tucked up tight in to the far bank not giving great views.
Then on to Stockers Farm where I added Starling to my list before moving on to Stockers Lock and Stockers Lake where the following species were encountered:-
Snow Goose (1 of presumed captive origin with 23 Canada Geese on Grand Union Canal below Stockers Lock), Great-crested Grebe, Great Cormorant (18), Common Pochard, Common Goldeneye (13 inc 5 male), Common Kestrel (female), Northern Lapwing (7), Common Gull (6).
Finally at Bury G.P a singing male Goldfinch provided the last addition to my new years list.

                                         Snow Goose on Grand Union Canal.

Apparently there has been a bit of a debate going on as to whether this bird might in fact be a Ross's Goose. My own opinion is that there is no doubt that it is a Snow Goose. To me the head shape, long chin, bill length and thickness of dark band on gape of bill is characteristic to that of Snow Goose, but I will let you decide yourself.

                                         Tufted Duck (male) at Stockers Lake.

                                         Common Pochard (pair) at Stockers Lake.