Always worth walking down the track to the Lows hide: a goldfinch charm in the alders, also dropping down to feed on the track; the three lesser redpoll and single siskin with them preferring to stay up in the trees. Approaching the hide a scan of the marsh picked out a peregrine which stayed for a few minutes, as well as the usual marsh harrier. Duck numbers similar to 9th December, although twice as many teal and a few mallard.

Plenty of duck from the Lows hide this morning: 400 wigeon, 70 teal, 35 shoveler and a single male pintail. Two marsh harriers putting up small groups of snipe.

6 days ago just a handful of mallard from the Lows hide. This afternoon 125 wigeon and single figure teal and shoveler.

A lovely male hen harrier drifting over the Lows this afternoon. Two marsh harriers and a few fieldfare. Still no duck…

Arrived at the Lows hide at 1720 this evening where a fellow-birder had just seen a ring-tail hen harrier. Hoping that it would show again we watched a barn owl hunting over the Lows for half an hour. Not sure if the owl put up the harrier, but it did reappear for 5 minutes, pursued some of the time by the owl. Harrier dropped into the vegetation about 1750, quite probably to roost.

A busy 10 minutes at the Catcott Lows hide yesterday evening (12th).  A hobby hunting over the far end towards Canada Farm at 2115 hrs (this seems to be a favoured area). A few minutes later a barn owl drifted past, a few yards from the hide window. Then a female sparrowhawk landed in the rushy margins on the far side of the pool and sat there for a couple of minutes, presumably contemplating the kill it had missed. The barn owl, meanwhile, had returned to sit on a fence 150 yards away. It was still sitting there when I left at 2150.

4 Glossy Ibis were present this morning before flying off and circling around a few times before heading off in eastwards. Also 5 Redshank present.

2 Little Ringed Plover were on the mud this afternoon, also 4 Redshank, 8-10 Lapwing, pair of Garganey and few Swallow flew through. Still a few Shoveller, Pintail and Teal about. A Sedge Warbler was singing near the car park.

A flock of about 30 Sand Martin flew through this morning, only waders were the Lapwing and 2 Redshank. Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler singing in the fen/heath area along with numerous Chiff Chaff, Blackcap and Willow Warblers and a Bittern was seen from the tower hide.

Yesterday evening (11/04) there were 4 Redshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 drake Garganey along with the Lapwing and remaining ducks. A few Willow Warblers were singing in the heath area along with the Chiff Chaff and Blackcaps that have been singing for a few weeks. A   booming Bittern was heard from the main hide , not sure if from Canada Farm or Catcott fen.

Catcott Lows this morning 09-04-3033
A bright sunny day and a good selection of birds seen
Marsh harrier male at a distance.
Grey heron.
Great white Egret ,two
Little Egrets.
Cattle Egrets 2
Lapwing three.
Redshank, two very active.
Pintail male
Shoveler.
Gadwall,Mallard, and Wigeon, in small numbers.
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Catcott Lows this morning 09-04-3033
A bright sunny day and a good selection of birds seen
Marsh harrier male at a distance.
Grey heron.
Great white Egret ,two
Little Egrets.
Cattle Egrets 2
Lapwing three.
Redshank, two very active.
Pintail male
Shoveler.
Gadwall,Mallard, and Wigeon, in small numbers.

Two Water Pipits and a ring-tailed Hen harrier were the highlights after the mist lifted today.

6-Jan-2020  
On an early evening, when rain had moved away leaving a clear blue sky, at 16:25 the ringtail Hen Harrier flew R to L in front of the car park hide, then turned and flew away low over the marsh scattering Wigeon until reaching the far end of the reserve when it turned left and disappeared to the north. Also present one. probably 2, Egyptian Geese and 7 Grt White Egrets. Others reported a Merlin earlier this afternoon, before 15:00 hrs.

04.01.20 15.35.Ringtail at far end of reserve. Hunted for several minutes (in fast fading light).