The draw at St Aidan’s today was a Firecrest, which had located itself at the far side of the reserve, a long walk ensued. Making my way down slowly, taking in the other birds on my way, two Common Buzzards, were my first attraction, high over the hillside, further down, among the grasses, was a distant Male Stonechat, other birds encountered on the way were, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Curlew, Lapwing, Great White Egret.
I eventually arrived at the Firecrest sight, it was still showing around the area, but was very mobile, it kept disappearing for a while before popping up again, usually away from where I was standing, I was never in the right place at the right time. There were other birds in the area to pass the time away, plenty of Redpoll and Siskin.
After a few hours I gave up on the Firecrest and made my way back to the visitor centre, coffee and cake time, also time at the feeders watching Long tailed Tits, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Chaffinch.
I revisited St Aidan’s again on the 22nd for another stab at the Firecrest, and eventually saw brief views of it, amongst the dense vegetation, no video or photos were obtainable, I did that day however get good flight views of a Bittern
A visit on the 21st February to a local site, Ingbirchworth Reservoir, gave me views of a White fronted Goose for the year.
I also had another visit to St Aidan’s on the 25th February, and got to see the Firecrest again, better views this time
You can see the video of the days combined HERE on You Tube
Birds seen at St Aidan’s : Bittern, Black headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Greenfinch, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Redpoll, Little Grebe, Little Owl, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pochard, Red Kite, Reed Bunting, Robin, Sparrowhawk, Shoveler, Siskin, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren (48) (115/200)
Birds seen at Ingbirchworth : Black headed Gull, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Goose, Lapwing, Mallard, White fronted Goose (Russian) (9)
Redpoll (Lesser)
Siskin ♂
Red Kite
Common Buzzard
Huddsbirder 