We spent Christmas at the in-laws in a small village, Boblitz, In East Germany. It was very cold (down to -14C in the day) with heavy snow fall, but I managed a couple of productive walks in the fields around the village. Birds seen on the first walk included Hooded Crow, Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammer, lots of Jays, and an extremely large flock of sparrows, finches and buntings feeding in a field where crops were poking up through the snow. Whilst watching them, I noticed a small flock of slightly larger birds that were feeding on the ground that turned out to be shore larks (or eared larks as they are called in Germany).
The next day I borrowed my father in law's camera (did not take mine due to Ryan air baggage policy and the suitcase full of presents we had to take to Germany) and tried to find the larks. No sign but did find a flock of 100+ Bramblings, several deer, flock of 50+ bullfinches and a rough legged buzzard.
The In-law's garden is large and attracts some great birds. Birding from the upstairs window produced a Black Woodpecker that flew across the garden into a neighbours tree, Peregrine Falcon, single Brambling, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Greenfinches.
The next day I borrowed my father in law's camera (did not take mine due to Ryan air baggage policy and the suitcase full of presents we had to take to Germany) and tried to find the larks. No sign but did find a flock of 100+ Bramblings, several deer, flock of 50+ bullfinches and a rough legged buzzard.
The In-law's garden is large and attracts some great birds. Birding from the upstairs window produced a Black Woodpecker that flew across the garden into a neighbours tree, Peregrine Falcon, single Brambling, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Greenfinches.
Snowy scene at Boblitz in Germany
Brambling in temperature of -8C
My wife made me take this as I was trying to get a shot of the Bramblings
Hooded Crow 
.JPG)
