Towards the end of a long, pleasant, but largely birdless walk in the Brickhills this long lunchtime, I came across a flock of c 35 Redpolls ( c 15 Siskins were also around, but the 2 species largely kept to themselves) of which at least 3 were good candidates for Mealies. They were about 200m down the central track running through Woburn GC from the car park above Bow Brickhill church. They were high in the birches and regularly spooked...not by me or apparently passing golfers....so with the many comings and goings assessing which were the same birds was not possible. Viewing was not great. A 'scope from slightly further away would have been an improvement. One bird was so obviously larger than any of the others that it could be picked out with the naked eye. A second bird, not so obvious on size was extensively white below,with no obvious streaking and an extensive pink flush on the breast. Presumably the birds reported a couple of days ago from London End Lane. Worth a look (Andy Harding)
