29-Nov-2016
Much the same as Alan’s posting of yesterday, in fact we were both in Noah’s Hide for a while. The adult Whooper Swan appeared briefly to the right of the tin-shed and at least 2 Bitterns flew across the lake; also a Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher and lots of duck spp. I found a Firecrest playing hide&seek; among ivy covered trees next to the info-board just along the main track from Ashcott Corner car park.

Photos of Kingfisher and Firecrest can be seen by clicking on these links…
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CydR4uPW8AEDpAU.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cyb7AnNWIAAj0rx.jpg

Finally caught up with the Whooper Swan today on Noah’s, thanks to Martin Sage who told me he’d seen it this morning but it was two hours before it eventually appeared. still a huge number of duck present species same as my previous posting but no sign of any Pochard today.

Probably 1000 duck on the lake today, majority were Wigeon with at least 100 Teal present at one time but mobile, plus good numbers of Shoveller and Gadwall:  Highlight was 30 Pintail. around 30 Tufted and 8 Pochard accounted for the diving duck. Just a few Canadas and Greylag Geese present plus 20 or so Mute Swans
A passing Bittern and a couple of Marsh Harriers with an occasional Kingfisherand an Otter were also seen. There was a male Blackcap in the sunlit bushes immediately right of the hide just before midday.