On arrival I started to scan the bushes along Dryham Lane near where i had parked the car, seeing Greenfinch, Dunnock, Lesser Redpoll (2), Cetti’s Warbler (heard only) and a single male Stonchat (Dryham Ings), on the left side marsh.
A good start, I decided on walking up Dryham Lane to the new workings, on the feeders on the right side were, Blackbirds, Tree Sparrows, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch. Out on Dryham Ings I found a Redshank and a couple of Black tailed Godwits. I tried looking for the Little Owl near the farm, but didn’t come across it, maybe too much activity from people at the time.
Looking over the new workings there were plenty of Black headed Gulls, a few Common Gulls, I scanned through them to try and pick up a Mediterranean Gull, but that was no go, a few Oystercatcher seen around here and a Treecreeper seen in one of the nearby trees. On my way back down Dryham Lane I found a single Chiffchaff along the hedge row, more likely an overwintering bird than a migrant bird.
After Lunch I decided on going on the footpath near Cliffe Road, stopping off in the East Hide (overlooking Village Lake), where I saw Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, and Canada Goose.
A change of plan after East Hide took me back towards Dryham Lane (Toilet Stop) and then back up Dryham Lane, Stonechat still in the same place on Dryham Ings. I took the footpath that takes up towards the Carp Lake and the Far Lake, a few Black headed Gulls and Pochard. I found a little feeding station down this footpath and a nearby bench, took the opportunity for a watch and saw Robins, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and a none bird species in the form of a Brown Rat. Behind me looking out towards South Carr Farm there was a Red Kite and a Common Buzzard sailing thru.
Island lake had the usual species of duck Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Shovelers and Teal. and a flock of about c50 Curlews flying about,
I finally arrived down at the Turret Hide, passing the main feeders, thinking I’ll come back to those. Common Snipe was a nice find then I got of a shot of Bittern, so dashed to the other side of the hide to see a Bittern in the reeds, given a couple of minutes it gave itself up as it walk/swam across the channel, nice. After about a fifteen minute wait, hoping it would give itself up again a Water Rail dashed for one side to the other.
Call of Brambling at the feeders over the radio had me then setting off to see that, a twenty minute wait the male Brambling eventually gave itself up. Also at the feeders were Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrows, Chaffinch, Bullfinch and a Rook
Bird List for the day :- Bittern, Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Brambling, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Cettis Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Greylag Goose, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Redpoll, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pochard, Red Kite, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Rock Dove/Fearl Pigeon, Rook, Shelduck, Siskin, Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck, Water Rail, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren (57)
Video vlog of the day by pressing HERE


