Superb walk this morning with Andy & Anne, plus Ezio of course.  Red Kite (maybe one of Mike & Lesley’s) and a Buzzard seen early on  We notice some trimming of the hedge by the metal seat, though planting a Christmas tree in the same spot may obscure this improved view in due course. A Chiffchaff was singing along the railway line, and at one point we were listening to 3 Song Thrushes serenading at the same time. While scanning the floods we came across Alex R who directed our attention to a Little Gull foraging over the water.  Lifer for Andy & Anne.  Something we didn’t see put up the Lapwings – 500 or more? – and brought into view loadsaducks, Pintil, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Ducks and a lone Shelduck. The heronry seems to have 4 nests again.  Sadly a dead swan was floating in the water by the metal bridge.

Just to the SW of Stretham Bridge Anne was first to spot 2 Great White Egrets in the field, then another lurking nearer to a hedge with 2 Herons. I thought I ought to do the whole walk, so carried on along the riverbank, while Andy & Anne turned back.  Two of the Great Egrets had moved to near the overflow pit and were dwarfing a Little Egret. A pair of swans were on the pit. I heard a distant Jay and south of New Inn were a group of 7 Little Egrets, and some Black=headed Gulls in varying shades of plumage.  Don’t normally count along the bridleway back as it’s not really my patch, but species added were Redwing (1), Fieldfare (5) Greenfinch and Green Woodpecker, to make a morning total of 51.