Bitterns at Dudgrove

Saturday 2nd January 2010

On another day of perfect, sunny, winter weather I kicked off the the year list today with Mark around the county with a total of 71 species. The highlight was finding two Bitterns in the eastern part of the Cotswold Water Park at pit 114, Dudgrove (photos above and below). They showed very well for an hour along the NW edge of the lake, viewed from the SE bank, from 10:40 to 11:40am. We watched them walking between the reed-beds and one bird took to the air a couple of times. The selection of birds on the lake also included 16 Goldeneyes, and a Raven flew over.
This is the other individual which we saw first:

Other highlights of the day included:
Quedgeley
A female Blackcap in the garden again; a Little Grebe on the canal just north of Sims Bridge.

Cotswold Water Park (Eastern section)
Pit 125 - The two Great Northern Divers, also a Chiffchaff (below); Pit 108 - 6+ Red-crested Pochard.

Driffield
Two Grey Partridges, also three Brown Hares.

Cotswold Water Park (Western section)
Pit 17 - A drake Smew and a drake Goldeneye; Pit 44 - Two drake Goosanders;

Slimbridge WWT
The usual selection of White-fronted and other Geese, Bewick's Swans and plenty of ducks for the evening feed, two Snipe and a Ruff, and a good pre-roost display of Starlings at dusk.

Cambridge
A Little Owl.

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