Hen Reedbed and Bly river.

Spent two hours here today in the snow, but not that cold. Although overcast.

We had a fly over of  28 BEWICK SWANS and another group of 7, total 35. There was a small party of geese, 7 in all which where obviously a wild group of BEAN GEESE. Also had a single GREEN SANDPIPER. The weather has defiantly brought these birds to the for. A MARSH HARRIER was hunting over Hen reed bed and LAPWING resting up. There was also a MARSH HARRIER quartering the estuary which was not appreciated by the WIGEON. On the smaller side a mixed flock of GOLDFINCH and LINNET as well as MEADOW pipit setting off in small groups on there own and then again joining the main group of birds. Around 15 REED BUNTING a two BEARDED TIT. Which sadly did not stay put. The most challenging of birds was a ROCK PIPIT which had some characteristics of a water pipit so I assume that it was a European Rock Pipit without being in the diffuse colouration that you would normally assign to water pipit. I have placed a picture here and if you disagree with me, all will be well.

I should imagine that within the small area we covered there was about 400 DUNLIN and 130 REDSHANK. AVOCETS counted out at 28 in this bay alone. SHELLDUCK 10 CORMORANTS 7 with WIGEON around 400 birds in total. Also saw a single GREY PLOVER and a 3 GOLDEN PLOVER.
On return we saw a single KINGFISHER fly over the reed bed and CHAFFINCH, GREAT TIT. BLUE TIT and a female BULLFINCH.

ROCK PIPIT or WATER PIPIT?