December 23rd

Draycote Water
Me and Dave Cox walked to toft bay but the thick freezing fog made birding difficult and even the long staying Lesser Scaup failed to appear out of the gloom tho on the walk back along farnborough bank the male Smew showed briefly so the visit was not a total failure.

Brandon Marsh
Arrived to the news that the Bittern had shown in front of East Marsh Hide and the empty hide indicated it was not on show but after five minutes of searching the reed bed left of hide the bird was found and watched for the next fourty minutes. One Water Rail, 2 Coal Tits and 10 Siskin also seen.

Bretford
The Dark-bellied Brent Goose still in field between Bretford and Church Lawford.

Rookery Farm, Lawford Heath
Tree Sparrow 5 feeding on silage a flock of 50+ Golden plover flew over west.

Richard