January 2nd 2010

Di Stone kindly sent these two images she took at Brandon Marsh yesterday when the Bittern came out of its hiding place. Many thanks now I know what it looks like.

I woke to find we had a light snow shower, the temperatures down to -2.8c in the garden with wind chill of -6c and wishing I had not cut me hair so short the night before. O well you are in it to win it so down to the pond before the grockles arrived.
Plenty about with 2 male Reed Bunting, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 12 Siskin and 5 Lesser Redpoll in toft shallows while the lower sailing club car park had Treecreeper, 23 Goldfinch and Woodcock flushed with a Willow Tit nearby on the feeding station in the rangers yard. The Great-northern Diver, female Common Scoter and male Smew were all between inlet and valve tower along with 8 Goosander and towards biggen bay there were 3 male and one female Pintail and 3 Snipe. Apparently I went straight past a Black-necked Grebe
Just arrived home when Mark offered a lift to Lawford Heath where we enjoyed 5 Corn bunting, female Reed Bunting and 3 Yellowhammer amongst the House Sparrows and Chaffinch at Rookery Hall Farm. At least 100 Golden Plover seen in flight nearby and over a 100 Stock Dove in adjacent fields. We were on our way home so Mark decided to take the longer scenic route down Lawford Heath Lane and just approaching the junction with the A428 when we both spotted the Great White Egret walking the edge of the field and occasionally dropping in to the stream. Soon had great views joined by JJ, Bumbling Bears and Bob and April.

Great White Egret by Bumbling Bears taken when it first arrived last year.

I watched the garden mid afternoon and I must be the only one feeding the birds around these parts as there was plenty to see with 2 Siskin, 3 Magpie, 6 Wood Pigeon, 15 Chaffinch, female Reed Bunting, 3 Coal Tit, Willow Tit, 2 Robin, 10 Blackbird and female Brambling appearing briefly. Peregrine flew overhead.
Finally caught up with me records and of interest the Bittern was the 13th year in a row its on my county list, Great-northern Diver makes it 15 years in a row at the pond while the Common Scoter continues a pond run of 34 years. Ended the year list on 195 for the county, 193 for me patch and 180 for the pond.

Richard