Abbertick tick tick tick tick tick

It was not the intention to be going Abberton, although after realising how close it was to where i was dropping the wife and kids off this morning i thought it would be rude not to.

 

 

 

Firstly i went to the Layer Breton Causeway and arrived shortly after 11am, i had heard about the Bittern here and after a few initial scans nothing was on show apart from Shoveller, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Eyptian Goose, Coot along with Pintail x4 and Snipe x2.

 

 

 

Within a few minutes Mr Rob hornchurch fc Burgess arrived after photographing the Desert Wheatear over at the EWT center; apparently showing well.

 

 

Shorlty after arriving he shows me a Red Crested Pochard, life tick no1, and right under my nose then he calls a Bittern flying from the right hand reeds to the far bank, catching this in flight and entering the reeds it becomes life tick no2 for the day.

 

courtesy of www.andrewcareyphotography.co.uk

 

Deciding to head to the reserve to get a 2012 Desert Wheatear tick (managed to see one of these at Titchwell last year) i left him at the causeway.

 

The bird had been seen while Rob was here earlier in the car park, i wasnt so lucky, although viewable i was informed it had flown to the edging of the reservoir and was scope views. Slip sliding my way down, i found yet another local, Mr Russ Sherriff already here. He kindly directed me onto the bird and i got views for the 3rd tick of the day.

 

Then news of a Whooper Swan came in from one of the hides, how cool, this would be life tick no.3 for the day. After reaching the hide, three swans could be seen, all head down. After what seemed like an eternity slowly they started a little tidy up, Mute x2 & Whooper x1.

 

Also to be seen from the hide were Black Tailed Godwit x4, lots of Lapwing, Dunlin & Lesser Black Backed. 

 

Tick No5 came for a 2012 year bird; Goldeneye x2 male birds drifted infront of the swans.

 

courtesy of wikipedia

My luck didnt hold all day though, i missed out on the Stonechats from the visitors center, but i cant grumble at a great day at Abertick.

 

Heading back to pick the family up things got even better as i passed through the Easthorpe area; firstly i came accross Red Legged Partridge x4,  then a Kestrel tucking into a recent kill a Common Pheasant finally in a field just through Easthorpe what i intially thought were two Pheasants, then Red Legged Partridge, then enough to make me stop and get the gear out the boot along with the Collins - Grey Partridge x2. Life tick No4.

 

Great day - 45 species in total - 4 lifes and 2 years :)