TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER 2008
After another heavy frost, it was a glorious clear and bright day but with temperatures struggling to rise above 3 degrees C.
MARSWORTH RESERVOIR
(joined by Mike & Rose Collard, Joan T & Martin Parr)
Following Dave Bilcock's text mid-morning, I ventured out into the cold and quickly relocated the EURASIAN BITTERN early afternoon. It was perched about halfway up the reeds not far right of the isolated tree at the back of Marsworth Reedbed and was showing well. It was generally roosting but was disturbed on occasions by mobbing Black-headed Gulls, which would force it to point its bill high towards the sky with its neck outstretched. It did some sunbathing too. It remained on view for at least two hours, eventually flying and disappearing down into the reeds at 1425 hours. Dave managed to get the two images published above.
Much of Marsworth was frozen but in the open water, 153 Shoveler, 6 Pochard and 7 Great Crested Grebes were gathered. WATER RAIL, 2 COMMON KINGFISHERS and GREEN WOODPECKER were also noted.
WESTON TURVILLE RESERVOIR (1505-1635)
(with Mike & Rose Collard, Dave Parmenter & Paul Keene)
As temperatures plummeted towards dusk, the wintering EURASIAN BITTERN eventually put in an appearance at 1624 hours, flying out from the channel 60 yards in front of the Hilda Quick Hide. Instead of flying towards the far shore as it generally does, it chose this evening to frequent the short reeds at the entrance to the channel and moved about the reeds there until darkness fell.
Two CETTI'S WARBLERS were recorded, one roosting in Salix close to the hide and another singing towards the back of the reedbed, whilst 2 COMMON KINGFISHERS were very active.
Just 7 REED BUNTINGS roosted, up to 6 WATER RAILS squealing and 5 Shoveler which are scarce here.
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Grey Heron (2)
Sinensis Cormorant (2)
Mallard (43)
Common Teal (1 female)
Tufted Duck (3)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
COMMON SNIPE (4 flew out of the cut-reeds at dusk)
STOCK DOVE (1 flew in to roost)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming)
Green Woodpecker
GREY WAGTAIL (2)
Jackdaws (447 flew to roost)
Jay (2)
WENDOVER
On an area of lawn bathed in sunshine at 'The Orchard', 5 Common Blackbirds, a Song Thrush and a single Redwing were feeding.
After another heavy frost, it was a glorious clear and bright day but with temperatures struggling to rise above 3 degrees C.
MARSWORTH RESERVOIR
(joined by Mike & Rose Collard, Joan T & Martin Parr)
Following Dave Bilcock's text mid-morning, I ventured out into the cold and quickly relocated the EURASIAN BITTERN early afternoon. It was perched about halfway up the reeds not far right of the isolated tree at the back of Marsworth Reedbed and was showing well. It was generally roosting but was disturbed on occasions by mobbing Black-headed Gulls, which would force it to point its bill high towards the sky with its neck outstretched. It did some sunbathing too. It remained on view for at least two hours, eventually flying and disappearing down into the reeds at 1425 hours. Dave managed to get the two images published above.
Much of Marsworth was frozen but in the open water, 153 Shoveler, 6 Pochard and 7 Great Crested Grebes were gathered. WATER RAIL, 2 COMMON KINGFISHERS and GREEN WOODPECKER were also noted.
WESTON TURVILLE RESERVOIR (1505-1635)
(with Mike & Rose Collard, Dave Parmenter & Paul Keene)
As temperatures plummeted towards dusk, the wintering EURASIAN BITTERN eventually put in an appearance at 1624 hours, flying out from the channel 60 yards in front of the Hilda Quick Hide. Instead of flying towards the far shore as it generally does, it chose this evening to frequent the short reeds at the entrance to the channel and moved about the reeds there until darkness fell.
Two CETTI'S WARBLERS were recorded, one roosting in Salix close to the hide and another singing towards the back of the reedbed, whilst 2 COMMON KINGFISHERS were very active.
Just 7 REED BUNTINGS roosted, up to 6 WATER RAILS squealing and 5 Shoveler which are scarce here.
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Grey Heron (2)
Sinensis Cormorant (2)
Mallard (43)
Common Teal (1 female)
Tufted Duck (3)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
COMMON SNIPE (4 flew out of the cut-reeds at dusk)
STOCK DOVE (1 flew in to roost)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming)
Green Woodpecker
GREY WAGTAIL (2)
Jackdaws (447 flew to roost)
Jay (2)
WENDOVER
On an area of lawn bathed in sunshine at 'The Orchard', 5 Common Blackbirds, a Song Thrush and a single Redwing were feeding.
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