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

Nocmig recording Monday night produced 2 flocks of Brent Geese over during the night along with 1 Tawny Owl, 1 Redwing and a Bittern could be heard booming from the Stour Valley. Still no Common Scoter yet. Hopefully I might get lucky in the next few days or weeks. 

Brent Geese

I was out at 04:45 this morning where there was no wind and everything was still, but also very cold! I pulled up at Nethergong and spent some time sitting in the car listening for the day to wake up. I was really hoping to hear a Bittern calling and it wasn't long until I could hear 2 booming Bittern calling from the Stour Valley. With the air still and crisp and not much traffic on the road, the call carried very well. Also heard were a few Greylag Geese, Pheasant, Moorhen, Mallard, Snipe and 1 Tawny Owl. As the light picked up, I quickly drove around to Chislet Marshes to collect the recorder which hadn't recorded that much, but a Bittern could even be heard booming from here. 4 Grey Partridge were calling at dawn. A quick drive back to Nethergong where after parking up, I spent a few hours walking around the site and out on to Chislet Marshes. Birds noted this morning in dry sunny but chilly conditions were 7 Greylag Geese, 11 Mute Swan, 7 Mallard, 1 Teal, 5 Pheasant, 6 Feral Pigeon, 10 Stock Dove, 69 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 2 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 19 Black headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 348 Herring Gull, 20 Cormorant and 1 Grey Heron. There were 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Red Kite (86) flew south at 09:27, 3 Common Buzzard, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker, 3 Kestrel, 91 Jackdaw, 3 Raven, 4 Skylark, 5 Chiffchaff, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Stonechat, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 5 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 6 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, 9 Corn Bunting, 27 Yellowhammer and 19 Reed Bunting. Nocmig recording Saturday night was generally quiet but noted were 2 Tawny Owl and what I think is a Long eared Owl call. Hopefully next weekend will deliver a few new migrants and weather permitting, the recorder will be out in the hope of a few birds passing over. 

Male Reed Bunting

Long eared Owl