New Year's Day.......

Jan 1 - The wettest, windiest New Year's Day I can remember, but I managed a surprising total of 72 species, being out for the morning, and then before dark. First stop CWP before the forecast rain, and the drake Smew was on pit 28a with a total of 3 redheads in the area. Goldeneye and 3 Goosanders also seen. Then on to Slimbridge where the hides offered shelter from the downpour - the Dumbles were packed with thousands of wildfowl and waders, big flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover being impressive with good numbers of Dunlin, Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit. A Little Stint and 3 Ruff were noteworthy. A drake Green-winged Teal was with the large flocks of dabbling and diving ducks, all confiding for the camera, such as Pintail (2), Pochard(3) and Mallard (4) especially on Rushy Pen where a few Bewick's Swans (1, 5-8) were also present. The wintering Great White Egret was at Coate Water at lunchtime, as usual from hide 2, and I managed a few record shots (9-10). Also here, a Jay and a Bullfinch. Finally, I ventured to Shorncote before dark - if it hadn't been 1 Jan I wouldn't have gone - and the reward was 2 Water Rails, 5 Little Egrets on the floods, a flyby Kingfisher and a calling Cetti's Warbler. Then home to dry out! Photos JM.