A couple of visits in to the area today with the first this morning at 6am where I noted 31 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Geese, 4 Mallard, 3 Pheasant, 4 Stock Dove, 16 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 1 Woodcock, c150 Herring Gull, 139 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Tawny Owl, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, c150 Rook, 2 Raven, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper (74), 3 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch, 5 Linnet and 20 Goldfinch. 

I returned to the area at 11:30 where I had a good walk around the southern end of Chislet Marshes and the campsite. Birds noted included 33 Mute Swan, 3 Coot, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Raven, 36 Skylark, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Redwing, 6 Stonechat, 1 Linnet, 7 Corn Bunting, 16 Reed Bunting and an excellent count of 33 Yellowhammer together feeding in a field out on the marsh. 

I had ninety minutes last night watching from Chitty Lane over the marsh until dark where the highlights were 2 Raven, 3 Grey Partridge and 1 Little Owl calling. I put out the recorder as it got dark and within 5 minutes of leaving, a Barn Owl was heard. Nineteen minutes after leaving, 1 White fronted Goose (68) flew over calling. Also heard on the recorder were Tawny Owl and Teal. 

I was out at 06:00 this morning in the rain where after collecting the recorder, I parked up at Nethergong and walked up to the area where I often see Woodcock fly in to roost. At 06:30, 2 Woodcock (69) were seen in silhouette flying into the wood to roost and not long after, 1 Water Rail (70) called from a small reedbed along with 1 Tawny Owl. Gadwall and Teal were also heard calling in the dark. As the light picked up, I had a good wander around most of the patch in continuous rain and noted 28 Mute Swan, 54 Mallard, 3 Grey Partridge, 1 Pheasant, 12 Stock Dove, 52 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 11 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 1 Golden Plover (71) was seen and heard, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper (72) was flushed from the Penn, 1 Black headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 10 Herring Gull, 148 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron and 2 Common Buzzard. There were 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 2 Raven, 5 Skylark, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 8 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 8 Blackbird, 48 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, 2 Meadow Pipit, 5 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 12 Corn Bunting (73) , one flock of 17 Yellowhammer in a field and 13 Reed Bunting. 

White fronted Goose

I had an hour and a half from 15:30 yesterday afternoon looking over the marsh from Chitty Lane in still pleasant conditions. Birds noted included 7 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Geese flew towards Grove Ferry, 2 Mallard, 7 Stock Dove, c50 Woodpigeon, 1 Moorhen, 116 Herring Gull, 163 Cormorant, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Owl calling, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jackdaw, c90 Rook, 3 Raven, 10 Starling, 133 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, 4 Chaffinch and 12 Linnet. Nocmig recording Sunday night produced 1 Tawny Owl, 1 Barn Owl and 1 Grey Partridge calling at dusk. 

Grey Partridge

Barn Owl