Birding 1/Feb/2009

Birding
1/Feb/2009
Location: Kromslootpark, Almere.
Time: 08.30-09.45h
Freezing conditions, most water frozen, little bits not frozen in some sheltered positions. No ducks, coots, moorhens, geese, rails, herons, swans, divers, dabchicks to be seen.
Tits were the main fare of the day, with many active / singing great tits, blue tits, 2 groups of long tailed tits particularly vocal in the old reed beds, whilst the group spotted in the trees remained somewhat silent being as they were, more intent on feeding. 1 Marsh (glanskopmees) or Willow (Matkopmees) tit, the one that makes the 4 single notes in a row. Vogelwerkgroep Meijendel recording has the Willow tit recorded as making 3 single notes, however I have heard the same note except 4 times in a row. Still a bone of contention for me. One pair of Dunnocks (hedge sparrows) giving what was a somewhat off-putting alarm call, but on close visual inspection the identification of Dunnock was indisputable.
Several blackbirds, several jays, 3 pairs of carrion crows, 1 or 2 common starlings who were in the company of a small flock, (maybe 20) of Meadow tit like birds, but more the size of a rock pipit, very wary, eschewing my proximity, and without the aid of binoculars, I was unable to decipher any unique features, except to say that the underside of the tail was completely dark brown, and easy to spot as the birds did a half turn in the air as they alighted from the wide open ground where they were grazing. Question for Wim Calame. Is this some strange artic bunting??
Always nice to see and hear are the goldfinches several of which were heard in the distance and also pair very close by, glinting in the morning sun. Wrens were conspicuous by their absence.