The day started fine with good visibility through the telescopes at Dodd Wood over the Lake, although the chilly wind was whipping up some white horses and sending short sharp waves slapping against the edge of the marsh. In the absence of ospreys it is always rewarding to look more closely at the low-life on the marsh. Today a magpie could be seen sidling along the shallow bank. It was obviously gleaning food from the flotsam and jetsam being washed up. As soon as a wave receded it ran forward and grabbed a titbit then retreated backwards as fast as it could to avoid the next one. After a number of near misses greed overcame caution and it was bowled over in a flurry of spray and wet wings. Slightly wobbly, it righted itself - and immediately got another large dollop of water in the face. This obviously gave it a brain wave for, taking cover behind a reedy tussock, it used that as a shield to dodge behind and keep dry.

In the afternoon we spotted an osprey eating a fish in a tree near the nest – the same bird as last time or a different one? Flurries of thick snow put a stop to our speculations.