Over-wintering Chiffchaff at Venus Pool

Springlike conditions in the Gorge turned out to be a gloomy and cool day up the road at Venus Pool Reserve. I arrived to be told that there was "not much about" but actually I counted 32 species, albeit many would be seen in the average garden. I've just joined the Shropshire Ornithological Society and this allowed me entrance to the "members only" hide which is heated and where they serve canapés and champagne - a little like the members enclosure at Royal Ascot but with a different dress code. I jest - of course. A single Oystercatcher had found itself on the scrape and the Green Sandpiper was still present. I walked to the Fen Hide and en route an over-wintering Chiffchaff was pointed out to me by a helpful chap who is a bird recorder for Shropshire. The Fen Hide seems to be a good place for small birds and I saw Bullfinch and Reed Bunting amongst others.