Beardo

Out yesterday morning with SH, Ifo and DM this morning or the last WEBS count of the year at Castle Island. The day was off to a good start as two Waxwing flew over the Brockwell shopping centre as I waited to be picked up. As usual nothing much to report from Castle Island but a couple of Red Breasted Merganser behind the island were noteworthy.
On to Bothal Pond next were we couldn’t locate any of the Todd’s (or whatever they are now thought to be) Canada Geese or the juvenile Great Northern Diver.
With no wind and good visibility it was an ideal day for us to check East Chevington for Bearded Tits. First we checked the settling pools and straight away we could hear at least one Bearded Tit- County lifer, pinging away from the reeds. It was a female which flew to the next pool and showed well on top of a reed stem before flying off over the bottom car park and over to the next area of reeds.
An unfrozen north pool held good numbers of wildfowl along with a female type Long Tailed Duck. Whilst watching the pool a Bittern climbed up the reeds in front of the hide next to us and launched itself into the air before flying the length of the pool and landing in the reeds at the opposite side.

Our last stop of the day was at Arcot Pond. As we crossed the stile leading to the pond a Willow Tit was calling from the hedgerow and showed well on top of the bushes.
The earlier reported drake Pintail- Cramlington lifer, was still on the pond amongst the Wigeon, Teal and Canada Geese.