I was out quite early this morning and after parking up at Nethergong, I spent a while listening to the day waking up. I heard 1 Bittern booming from the direction of the Stour Valley. I then spent the next few hours walking around the campsite before a walk around the southern end of Chislet Marshes. It was lovely to see some sunshine and at first quite cold, but it warmed up a little throughout the session. Birds noted included 1 Greylag Goose, 18 Mute Swan, 2 Mallard, 2 Grey Partridge, 3 Pheasant, 6 Stock Dove, 38 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 5 Moorhen, 40 Herring Gull, 24 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 30 Jackdaw, 39 Rook, 2 Raven, 6 Skylark, 12 Chiffchaff, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Long tailed Tit and 2 singing Blackcap. There were 2 Starling, 1 Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 2 male Wheatear (89) were in fields and showed well briefly allowing me to grab a few photos. Also seen were 6 Dunnock, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Chaffinch, 8 Linnet, 4 Goldfinch, 35 Corn Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer and 8 Reed Bunting. 

Male Wheatear 

Yellowhammer

I had an hour and a half watching from the path at the bottom of Chitty Lane yesterday from 16:15 in cold but sunny conditions. Birds noted included 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Mallard, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Pheasant, 7 Stock Dove, c300 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 2 Moorhen, 38 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black backed Gull, 9 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 male Hen Harrier hunting the marsh, 4 Common Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 55 Jackdaw, 10 Rook, 2 Raven, 1 Skylark, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chaffinch, 3 Linnet, c40 Corn Bunting and 1 Reed Bunting.

I was out early Sunday morning where I parked up at Nethergong and listened into the darkness for anything calling. Despite the still conditions, I didn't hear any Bittern calling. I then spent a few hours walking around the Nethergong and Chislet Marshes area where I noted 2 Greylag Geese, 16 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Mallard, 1 Teal, 3 Grey Partridge with a Peregrine seen later with a Grey Partridge in its talons, 1 Pheasant, 6 Stock Dove, 14 Woodpigeon, 1 Water Rail, 16 Moorhen, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Black headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black backed Gull and 47 Cormorant. I picked out a distant Great White Egret (87) flying North towards Reculver, a scarce bird to see here. There were 2 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzard, 1 Tawny Owl, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 26 Jackdaw, c50 Rook, 2 Raven, 6 Skylark, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Long tailed Tit, 1 Blackcap (88), 1 Firecrest, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 2 Grey Wagtail, 23 Chaffinch, 3 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch, 36 Corn Bunting, 17 Yellowhammer and 13 Reed Bunting. Nocmig recording Saturday night produced 1 Long eared Owl, 1 Coot, Greylag Geese, Egyptian Geese and another flock of Brent Geese migrating over. 

Long eared Owl