We were concerned that clearing the reeds in the ditches at the weekend might have upset 'our' bittern, but we needn't have worried. As the boats chugged around the reedbed we thought it might be flushed out, but there was no sign of it. Indeed, I thought it might have gone elsewhere during the few days last week when ice covered almost all the open water, but true to form it flew past Reedbed Hide well after sunset at 4.55pm. Equally true to form, only the regular birders were there to appreciate it, as casual visitors rarely tend to stay after sunset.

Also true to form, a merlin hunted over the reedbed late in the afternoon, giving its customary fly past. Of course, there are likely to be more than one in this part of the county, as there are enough small birds to sustain them in the farmland around here.

Speaking of which, lapwings and golden plovers have returned to the field opposite the reserve entrance. There are not as many as before Christmas, but my peak counts recently were 383 goldies and 213 lapwings, attended by dozens of black-headed gulls intent on piracy. There were also several hundred fieldfares and a few grey partridges and common gulls. And hares.

The mild weather seems to have prompted various birds into song. Robins, which don't seem to be put off singing even in the coldest weather, are everywhere on the reserve, and I have also heard great tits, chaffinches, siskins, and song thrushes at the weekend.