Bitterns behaving badly ... still

Isn't it always the way that no sooner do you write or say something then circumstances conspire to prove you wrong. As I was writing yesterday's blog and commenting on our lack of snow, I was watching a brief snow shower outside the window. Before I had time to edit the blog, the snow had stopped again, so i left it, not expecting enough snow to settle.

It was, therefore, a bit of a surprise to open the curtains this morning and see a light carpet of snow across garden. When I walked outside and the snow crunched, I knew that the drive to work might be "interesting". I can honestly say that i don't think I've ever had to scrape almost one centimetre of solid ice from the car windows before! Needless to say I took it easy on my morning commute.

With clear blue skies and a bright winter sun, I knew that the snow was unlikely to linger long, despite the temperatures hovering just above zero, so mid morning I took a stroll to take a few wintry photos.

I didn't have to go far to see my first snowy bittern

OK, so that's a wooden one in the Wild Zone, but it's a good reminder that we're thanking the Heritage Lottery Fund for their support in funding project like this by offering all National Lottery players a free cuppa in the cafe until Friday. Just bring along a valid lottery ticket to redeem your hot drink.

With such clear blue skies and a snowy landscape, there was only one place to add to make the most of the colours. Bittern Hide is always at it's most scenic on a sunny winter day. And so it proved.

I was only in the hide for five minutes, but still managed to see not one but two bittern flights, first from then across the newly cleared pool between Bittern Hide and Wildlife Lookout. The recent Truxor work has certainly been successful as both little egret and grey heron were also seen in that pool this morning.

As I had entered Bittern Hide, a message came over the radio that two more bitterns were feeding in front of Island Mere Hide, so it would have been rude not to go along and see them for myself. Walking along the base of Whin Hill I couldn't resist another wintry landscape photo.

As I entered Island Mere Hide, Michael, our volunteer guide, informed me that one of the bitterns had flown off, but the second was still standing there, plain for all to see, even without binoculars.

OK, so perhaps it's not easy to see in that photo, so try this one.

Of course, there were other birds to see too, including cormorants and great black-backed gulls on the mere, and this male marsh harrier that caught me unawares as he flew close to the hide, so I had to make do with a more distant shot.

It wasn't long before I spotted a new species - the crested bittern!

Clearly that fishing spot wasn't working - fishing's not easy when the water is frozen, so it was time to move on.

My, what big feet you have. Perfect for dancing on ice.

"But all this showing off is tiring. Time to take my leave."

Time for me to move on too. No sign of any siskins around the Rhododendron Tunnel today, but several tits, goldcrests and blackbirds in the woods, and more contrasting autumnal colours with snow.

I didn't get down to the Scrape today, but I heard from our wonderful guides that the drake mandarin was on East Scrape, along with a pintail, a few lingering avocets and six Bewick's swan, a knot was on South Scrape, and there were good numbers of the usual ducks. More unusually, at least in terms of location, three bullfinches were close to the East Hide entrance.

All in all, a perfect winter day.