After a latish night and a slight hangover, I was surprised I made it out by 5am this morning. The Pit Tip only produced a Red Fox alongside the main Plantation and a picturesque sunrise, but heading down the hill to Dawson's Corner I sighted a group of three Cormorant heading south, high over the Mill Lakes and down the Leen at 5:15am.
Heading down the Reedbed Boardwalk a yellow juvenile Willow Warbler was feeding in the Alder Carr. A Reed Warbler was in the surrounding willows, and a Jay was in the trees along eastern edge of the Reedbed. Heading around the lake produced a possible Garden Warbler seen briefly behind the Dipping Ponds, where a Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Tit where also seen and heard. A single 'sum plum' Ruddy Duck was in the middle of lake moving between the islands, and one of the adult Great Crested Grebe had the juvenile in tow again. Towards the north end a (probable juvenile) Grey Heron was circling the lake, but seemed to fly off, and a group of Canada Goose flew in from the north to yield a count of 62.
The stone bank island had emerged from the water again today, but there was little of interest at the north end, so I headed up to the Leen Pastures. Again, all was quiet. Even the Golf Course was quiet, with a distant Kestrel hovering in the background. Walking back along the embankment produced a few warblers, including another Lesser Whitethroat.
Back at the Peninsula, I crossed paths with two kids equipped with fishing rods. They didn't seem too pleased to see me, but only moved on to the next jetty. Moving on myself, Ralph caught my attention with a whistle, and I headed up to meet him as he waited for Julie. Having not seen the others since April, we caught up on the latest news, and set off round the lake.
A Pied Wagtail was in the long grass near the Dipping Ponds, and reaching the far side, a Sparrowhawk was circling high over the lake. A few Bullfinch were elusively feeding on the rowan berries, giving the slightest of views. I picked out a female/juvenile and then a male, before we retraced our steps to take the back path instead - barely anything to be seen though.
We spent about twenty minutes at the north end. A couple of single Black-headed Gull put in an appearance before one adult in winter plumage, came in and settled on the water. It was joined by two others in their summer to winter transition, hinting at the start of winter. Another birder, who I'd not met before, joined us for a chat and I picked up the juvenile Great Crested Grebe again, now separated from the adults, which is first time I've seen it away from its parents. Julie picked up on two Cormorant circling high over the southern end of the lakes, and then flying north over our heads.
It was time to be getting back, and the three of us parted company with the other birder. We had a quick look for the Grey Wagtail under the bridge where Ralph had seen it earlier, but without any luck. As Julie and I walked back along the path the the main entrance a Chiffchaff put in an appearance, showing just well enough for us to see its leg ring, and a male Yellowhammer was heard singing from the hedgerow behind the adjacent farmer's field. A nice, but relatively quiet, morning, racking up a respectable total of 45 species.
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