A good afternoon birding

A late afternoon visit to Springwell Gravel Pit produced the following species:-
Little Grebe (1), Great Cormorant (2), Gadwall (2), Mallard (3), Common Pochard (11), Tufted Duck (23), Common Goldeneye (female), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Common Moorhen (2), Eurasian Coot (121), Black-headed Gull (40), Woodpigeon (11), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren (1), European Robin (1), Common Blackbird (5), Song Thrush (1), Redwing (1), Cetti's Warbler (1), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie (3), Western Jackdaw (over), Carrion Crow (1), Common Chaffinch (3).
The Cetti's Warbler was observed feeding among the reeds and crack willow on the overgrown river bank about ten feet past the red life ring.

                                         
                                                 Cetti's Warbler at Springwell Gravel Pit

I then had to head off back to Maple Cross to pick up my daughter and while waiting in Denham Way I noted 5 Bohemian Waxwing opposite number 74.
I then received news from Sir Geoff Lapworth that the male Smew and Great Bittern were again showing at Stockers Lake, so off I went. The light was beginning to fade on my arrival and I found most of the water still locked in ice. A small area of open water remained in front of the Shoveler hide and it was here I caught up with the "white nun".

                                                           The white nun in fading light.

It was time to go home and so making my way back along the riverside footpath I happened across the Great Bittern doing what comes naturally, Bitterning!
 

                                                     A very poor shot of the Bittern at Dusk.