Two glorious days but little to report.

I was out a first light on Thursday morning sea watching for the reported Slavonian Grebes and maybe the Black Brant on the spit. No joy, but my first Long Tailed Duck of the winter was off shore, but repeated diving made it difficult to watch and impossible to photograph as it was far too far away.
The light was good all day but the birds were noticeably sparse. A search for the reported Bearded Tits along the North Wall was unsuccessful too!

A Little Egret in a Hawthorn bush was the only attractive subject....

                                           

Little Egret before grooming.

Little Egret looking resplendent following a preening session...what a difference!

Waders were in short supply but it was good to note the build up of Golden Plovers in the harbour...

Distant Golden Plover...against the light.

Today was another day of almost unbroken sunshine and many hours were spent birding. Unfortunately I have little to show for it, although I did track down three Bearded Tits in the reed bed along the North Wall in the late morning; they were very flighty and would drop into the reeds only to completely disappear!

So, just a distant shot of a Water Rail skulking along behind a sleeping Teal....

Perhaps I would have had more success fishing....

...but maybe not, looking at what this fisherman was pulling in!