Gareth: At Dunstall Park, the four Coot were still present, whilst gulls included 464 Black-headed, 27 Lesser Black-backed and ten Herring.

Kevin: This morning was slightly better for the RSPB Garden Birdwatch, with three Blue Tits, two each of Great Tit, Blackbird and Wood Pigeon, and single Robin and Magpie.

This afternoon at Netherton Reservoir saw fewer gulls than on Friday, presumably because the local tips were closed, but an adult Great Black-backed flew through, as did 930 Black-headed, 55 Lesser Black-backed and just one Herring. Two Great Crested Grebes were still present, and some 270 Wood Pigeons roosted in Saltwells Wood.

Gareth: 67 species. Kevin: 58 species.

Gareth: At Dunstall Park this morning there were four Coot and seven Meadow Pipit.

Kevin: Spent an hour early morning surveying our small urban garden for the RSPB Garden Birdwatch: two each of Blue Tit, Great Tit and Wood Pigeon, and single Blackbird and Robin (not American!). I went to Belvide Reservoir for the rest of the day, joining ten others in the morning work party and stayed for the gull roost, which was disappointingly poor after excellent numbers of gulls roosted the last few days.

Gareth: 67 species. Kevin: 58 species.

Gareth: 32 Golden Plover flew over Dunstall Park this morning.

Kevin: At Netherton Reservoir this afternoon, some 1,500 Black-headed, 330 Lesser Black-backed and 20 Herring Gulls, most of which came in from the west and flew straight on towards Bartley Reservoir; so frustrating, anything could have been with them! Also present were three Great Crested Grebes and some Dabchick, but no sign of the Tufted Duck or Canada Geese. Whilst watching the gulls from the car, a bird flew past so closely that I heard its wings cut through the air - a Sparrowhawk, which very nearly flew in through the open window!

Gareth: 67 species. Kevin: 58 species.

Kevin: Quiet on Netherton Hill this lunchtime, though two Canada Geese and a drake Tufted Duck were new at Netherton Reservoir, where there are still three Great Crested Grebes.

Gareth: College today.

Kevin: 58 species. Gareth: 67 species.

Kevin: A fine adult Yellow-legged Gull, c300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, c450 Black-headed Gulls and c20 Herring Gulls gathered late afternoon before departing towards Bartley Reservoir, but no Glaucous or Iceland Gulls amongst them! Now three summer-plumaged Great Crested Grebes present, but no sign of yesterday's Tufted Ducks.

Gareth: Back to college, so no birding.

Kevin: 58 species. Gareth: 67 species.

Kevin: A cold, bright day brings some changes at last – an adult Common Gull was the first of the year, five Tufted Duck were the first since one at the start of the year and the pair of Great Crested Grebe have started displaying.

Gareth: A first-winter Mediterranean Gull was on the largely frozen lake this morning before flying off down the valley. A Common Gull was also present.

Kevin: 58 species. Gareth: 67 species.

Gareth: Two year ticks – Brambling at Compton Park and Treecreeper near Aldersley Junction. A first-winter Yellow-legged Gull and adult Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull were at Dunstall Park. Totals of seven Goldcrests and three Dabchick between Compton and Aldersley JUnction.

Kevin: Quiet at Netherton Reservoir this lunchtime, though the two Great Crested Grebes and a few Dabchick were still present.

Gareth: 67 species. Kevin: 57 species

Gareth: An early morning visit to Dunstall Park was unproductive. Geoff Russon found a Brambling at Compton Park, which I will look for tomorrow – I was not able to today due to playing Sunday League football again after the Christmas and New Year break – we won 4-2 and I helped set up one of our goals.

Kevin: Leading a Wolverhampton RSPB Local Group coach trip to Cantley/Strumpshaw prevented any patch birding, though I did see 8 species of geese: 84+ Taiga Bean (image of distant birds below), 42+ White-fronted and 67 Pink-footed at Cantley Marshes, one Red-breasted, 53+ Barnacle and some Canadas and Greylags at Buckenham Marshes and one Egyptian at Strumpshaw Fen. Also, 2+ Marsh Harriers and 1+ Marsh Tit at Strumpshaw Fen.

Gareth: 65 species. Kevin: 57 species.

At Dunstall Park this morning, the best birds were 4 Coot (rare here in winter) and 2 Common Gulls.

For the rest of the day we joined forces.

At Wightwick, the drake Mandarin (image below) was still on the Staffs. & Worcs. Canal. A male Peregrine flew over some distance towards Pool Hall, outside our area and which Gareth has, very honourably, not counted for his local patch year list.

At Netherton Reservoir, the 2 summer-plumaged Great Crested Grebes were still present, but the gulls were disturbed by boat activity.

We joined Julian Allen, Paul Jeynes, Steve Haynes and several other birders at Bartley Reservoir for the gull roost to look for the Iceland Gull – third time lucky for us, hopefully. As soon as we arrived, the juvenile Glaucous Gull was picked out, but all the other birders left well before dark to leave just the five of us to search for the Iceland Gull. Steve soon picked out the juvenile bird and quickly put us onto it. Although both birds remained too distant for photography, the five of us enjoyed watching the juvenile Iceland and Glaucous Gulls in the same 'scope view! Third time lucky indeed!

Kevin: 57 species. Gareth: 65 species.

Early this morning we went to the salubrious Wombourne sewage works, where Gareth soon picked out the handsome Firecrest, which showed well, if it was somewhat mobile. Also in the area we counted at least seven Goldcrests.

Gareth: I walked back along the railway walk to Smestow Valley, the highlight being another two Goldcrests.

Kevin: A site visit to Cotwall End Valley LNR saw a good selection of woodland birds, including two Willow Tits, at least three Goldcrests (they must be benefitting from the mild weather!), Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Bullfinch, Nuthatch and Treecreeper, and a most unexpected Red Admiral butterfly!

Early afternoon at Netherton Reservoir produced seven Little Grebes (the year's highest total), two Great Crested Grebe, an adult Great Black-backed Gull, the year's first two Canada Geese there and another Buzzard, but no Goldcrests!

Kevin: 57 species. Gareth: 65 species.