Managed to escape from marking for a few hours in the afternoon. Walked to the Hurlet and back via the Cart and Hurlethill. Bird encounters were few due to thick mist (although a Buzzard appeared briefly over the Hurlethill trig point). The only birds along the river were Mallards and a "possible Water Rail" which eventually revealed itself as a first winter Moorhen. Birds of the day were Long tailed Tits and Redwings, both of which seemed to be everywhere.