The gloomiest day of the week turned out to be the best on the reserve and my well attended Kids Birdwatching Club had a superb walk around despite the persistent drizzly rain. We saw Oystercatcher and a Yellow Legged Gull on the foreshore and they were all wondrously patient and quiet while we crept up on and watched the Bearded Tit family.
The Marsh Harriers were out patrolling in packs with ten birds seen today including six juveniles but it was the the appearance right in front of us of not one but two Great White Egrets near the Butts hide that stole the show and wowed all present.
They always look even bigger that Grey Heron because of the white plumage and that orange dagger of a bill is quite imposing.
Pic by Russell Taylor
Russ Taylor
Bill Moss
John Ferguson
The rest of the walk was taken up by some Insect hunting and possibly a little but of blackberry slumping although I will not admit to that...
Oh and Bill Moss also saw a very early returning Whinchats as well today...