On a mid am visit I had 3 Jack snipe & approx. 20 Snipe from the raised bog,1 jack flew the usual 50 odd yds another flew completely off,a good 20 Gooseander were on lakes at bottom of London drove,also an adult male Marsh Harrier,1 GWE,and a brief water rail on way back,in addition to the firecrest.
Good views of Firecrest at usual place along London Drove and nice male Bullfinch, Gooseanders on lake further along as well as GW Egret. Male Marsh Harrier showing well from tower hide, 2 bitterns flying,couple of Greylag geese dropped in. Goldcrest ,LT tit, Reed Bunting, GS Woodpecker and Chiffchaff along path from Viridor hide to London Drove. Lapwing, Snipe and mixed flock of Redwing & Fieldfare in field opposite reserve entrance.
Spent an afternoon just wandering down London Drove today (1.30 - 4.00). Lots of species about, but failed to spot the Firecrest in the reported location (just past the orange fence). I spent an hour in total between 2.00-2.30 and 3.30-4.00 at the Firecrest spot, but found the whole area to be very quiet. A pair of Water Rail were skulking about under the trees, but there was nothing in the trees.
Also heard a small flock of Bearded Tits in the area around North hide, but failed to get eyes on them, and also saw what I thought was the back end of a snipe flying away from me.
Jamie I was there between 9.15 & 9.45 am the Firecrest was feeding on both sides of the drove although it did favour the opposite side to the ivy clad trees at times very low down in the bracken and brambles last seen flying off into the trees behind the metal gate.
Unable to post this before but there were two Firecrests showing quite well around 1 pm yesterday in the usual area; I understood they had been seen much earlier but had disappeared for a while. I was indebted to a gentleman whose ears were much younger than mine; had he not been there I might easily have walked past them!
No sign of any Firecrests this morning but perhaps a bit early as Goldcrests became active as I started to leave....duty calls I'm afraid!
A very icy scene this morning but the highlight was 6 Great White Egrets perched in trees together over the back of the drove. Also 3 Water Rail, 7 Grey Heron, 6 Goosander, Cetti's, Reed Bunting, Marsh Harrier and good numbers of finches and tits.
