January 8th 2006
Spent the afternoon collecting a few local birds and doing a short "reccie" for sites that could hold Hawfinch - will try these later in the week.
Found an apple tree full of fruit so collected a carrier bag for the thrushes in the garden at home.
First stop off at Cainhoe Pit, Shefford where the Egyptian Geese was found in an arable field - feeding all by itself and looking rather sodden and with an obvious limp. Poor photos in terrible light.
Next stop at Elstow Pits near Bedford - the adult Ferruginous Duck was found quickly, feeding in the margin of the lake reedbed with Tufted Ducks and Pochards - fourth winter i have seen this bird at this location. When this site has been frozen i have often hoped to find it at Willington GP my local patch - only some 5 miles away.
Onto Stewartby Roost - largely just small gulls present although all really close, ad Yellow-legged Gull the highlight.
Finally, Brogborough Lake, after spending 40 minutes in the freezing rain, a 15 second glimpse of a Bittern in flight and then perched on the top stems of reed like a ballancing ballerina ended the day in some style, mmm.........
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