Yesterday there were some large flocks of fieldfares and redwings - over 40 fieldfares over the car park, and later, a mixed group of about 100. A first year gannet was also seen flying inland from the Lilian's hide.
We were blessed with a beautiful day for our bearded tit walk this morning, with perfect conditions for seeing them. We had good sightings of four - two males and two females - on the grit trays. We also caught sight of two Whooper swans being chased off by a mute swan and one of our number was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a water rail from the Public hide. The harriers were displaying well too; three (and possibly a fourth) were seen regularly through the morning - a female, a juvenile and a young male. We wandered down the Causeway beyond the Public hide and were lucky enough to catch sight of four otters out in the pool to the left. They were tumbling about together - what a great way to end the walk!
We had a common gull at the Lilian's hide, and over at the saltmarsh a merlin, greenshanks, spotted redshanks, a goosander and a red breasted merganser.