I headed for the lakes, via the Ashes Lane Field, where 4 MEADOW PIPITS flew up from the grass and a KESTREL was seen perched in one of the boundary trees. Their were no surprises on the lakes when I arrived, just the MUTE SWAN family, COOT pair, 4 MALLARDS and 6 MOORHENS, plus the KINGFISHER was seen again.
I walked the Scrubby Woods in the hope of finding a Woodcock for the months list, but was disappointed in that respect, but a party of LONG TAILED TITS were watched as they moved through the dripping wet trees, with them were some of the usual followers of BLUE and GREAT TITS, plus a TREECREEPER, a COAL TIT and a GOLDCREST, just 2 BULLFINCHES were seen feeding on the old Blackberries.
Heading back home I saw a SPARROWHAWK up hunting.
Later in the morning a visit to the reservoir at Bough Beech was very enjoyable, the water was teeming with wildfowl, there were MALLARDS, MOORHENS, COOTS, TUFTED DUCK, SHOVELERS, WIGEON, POCHARD and over 100 TEAL, plus GADWALL, MANDARIN, LITTLE GREBE, GREAT CRESTED GREBE, and 3 male GOOSANDER. LITTLE EGRET and GREAT WHITE EGRET were also seen, as well as probably 2 KINGFISHERS and a SNIPE. Around 50 LAPWING moved nervously around the reservoir edge, where over 100 GREYLAG GEESE, a few CORMORANT and half a dozen GREY HERON were also found, a BUZZARD flew in and alighted at the top of a tree, which scattered virtually ever bird from the small lake. A good winter days birding :-)
The light was poor and the subjects distant, but I did take a couple of photo's..................
Common Snipe
Great White Egret
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