Tuesday 28th Feb

You wouldn't think Coal Tit would be highlight, but it was, especailly as it was a pair, which is rare anyway and they had obviously just had a bath and were very happy to just slowly dry off in the Blackthorn, only moving an inch or two at a time, allowing me a super rare photo opportunity. Most of the time you only hear them and if you do see them, they are highly mobile...not today.

Sunday 26th Feb

Despite being work party, still managed to pick up singing Nuthatch at the bottom of the car park field, fly over Ring-necked Parakeet too. At LFGP the Redshank flew off, but then flew back over North at 11:20. Bitterns in NW corner, Lavell's and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers being seen in three locations, 1 heard by me 16:50. Pintail still present too.

Sat 25th Feb

1 Bittern Lavell's main island, on arrival at 16:30 ,I picked up a dark looking individual but didn't have the legs down on my tripod and was srambling to get Jerry O'Brien's mobile number, so never did scope it.
Moving on to WSL, met Jerry en route, waited ages, saw a Little Egret head North 17:50 and finally glimpsed the dark bird middle right, we headed for the bank behind and watched from about 60 yards, as it climb high into the reeds at around 18:02. Sadly no sign of the other paler bird, which did fly in last night at 18:00, landing far over to the right as viewed from the bank. Definitely 3 birds here again now.

23rd Feb - Lavell's Bittern

Got lucky heading for Bittern hide at 15:43 immediately picking up an adult male Peregrine going fast West to East at 200ft, I was heading for what may be another (third) Bittern was found at Lavell's, probably yesterday's LFGP bird. It showed very well allowing many to capture photos

23rd Feb

Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen by Ray Reedman et al, from section of old Colemans Moor Road, half way between aviation museum and Sandford Mill House.

22nd Feb LFGP

3 Pintail still ranging between LFGP and Sandford and what may prove to be another Bitttern, flew into the small patch of reeds left of Ron's Hide. Later I photographed another gull that looked like a Yellow Legged, marking species 90 for February, 88 in 2008 being the previous highest ever count for that month.

21st Feb LFGP

A quick visit at 07:30, a spring like feel along the Loddon footpath with many birds in song, Treecreeper and Grey Wagtail near Sandford Mill, a pair of Little Grebe by the storm drain. At Lea Farm G.P. the male Shelduck still present, 20+ Teal, circa 40 Wigeon, 1 Snipe, 50+ Lapwing, plus the Lesser Black Backed Gull with blue ring on it's right leg still about and still unable to get the number, last 2 digits are U1.