I remember last year seeing bearded tits out feeding on the boardwalk, and it happened again yesterday - and almost in the same spot.
In the bright sunshine of a warm November day, a male and a female were feeding, presumably on seeds or small insects that they were finding on the planks of the northern boardwalk. They were not at all bothered by me as I stood watching them from just 10 yards away.
Several times, something spooked them briefly, and they would dart back into the reeds, but first one, and then the other, would hop back out and they would carry on feeding. After about 10 minutes, they were off, pinging as they went over the top of the reeds.
They really are immaculate little birds, and always add a sense of excitement to any walk around the marshes here. (archive pic - Mark Vale).
My day was further brightened up by a peregrine sitting on one of the pylons (quite commonly seen at the moment), a ruff on the Target pools, and two Cetti's warblers having a close quarters 'sing-off' near the Butt's hide, accompanied by much posturing, each with a single wing lifted skywards.