BITTERN tonight at WTR

One BITTERN flew in at 16:25 from right of hide at Weston Turville Reservoir

Also 4 Water Rails, 2 Common Kingfishers, a Little Egret, 4 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall and a Little Grebe (Graham Smith)

Birding over the festive period

Yesterday went to Wendover Woods in the morning. Only birds of note were 2 COMMON CROSSBILLS heard flying over.

With Warren and Dave yesterday the Marsworth BITTERN showed quite well opposite the hide.

The gull roost is still quite low in numbers, although there have been 2 Herring Gulls in the last 2 days and 32 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Sunday evening. This morning only birds of note around Tring Reservoirs was a male PINTAIL and the COMMON REDSHANK at Wilstone, and the female Red-crested Pochard at Startops (Steve Rodwell)

Ruddy Shelduck again

28 December: A female Ruddy Shelduck of unknown origin was at Wilstone early this morning.
4 Goldeneyes were also present (3 males and a female) (Dave Bilcock)

Weston Turville BITTERNS - 27 December

Excellent and prolonged views of two BITTERNS this afternoon at WTR. At one stage both birds were seen together. One bird walked into the main channel at about 16.15 and the second bird flew over its head into the reeds between the channel and the reservoir. The first bird stood in the channel skywatching for about 2 minutes before flying off into another channel out of sight. The second bird then appeared in the channel and spent about 4 minutes, also skywatching, before flying into the reeds. At about 4.50 something spooked a Grey Heron and a BITTERN out of the main reedbed and they flew off to the reeds on the opposite side of the reservoir from the (new) hide. The Bittern returned about two minutes later and flew into the reeds just to the left of the channel at the (new) hde end. Also several Water Rails - three were seen in 30 seconds at one point. A Brown Hare walked out into the cut area presumably to feed (Dave Parmenter)

BITTERN still

27 December: The BITTERN put in a late performance this evening at 16:20. Initially it was sat low in the reeds along the south bank, opposite the hide, before flying into the reeds nearer the SW corner (Dave Bilcock).

Two BITTERNS now at Weston Turville

Christmas Day: First BITTERN flew in low from far right of hide at 16:15 to roost in deep reeds to front left of hide. While watching excellent views of feeding and bathing Water Rail in unfrozen stream flowing through cut out in front of hide, a second BITTERN rose from the far edge of the reeds to the right of hide at 16:25 and flew to roost close to 1st bird. An added benefit of walking off the Christmas dinner...Pete & Ginny Weisner

Happy Xmas to all of my browsers

Chris Williams did very well in fading light to get these two record shots of the GREAT WHITE EGRET present briefly on 20 December.

Meanwhile on Christmas Day, both wintering EURASIAN BITTERNS are still present - at Marsworth Reservoir and Weston Turville Reservoir