A bright and very cold day for our jaunt to Westhay. Starting at Viridor hide we had a great but quick view of a Snipe swimming by, you don't often see that! A few Gadwall around but not much else. On towards the tower hide from where we spotted a Marsh Harrier low over the reeds. Walking on Ann spotted a lovely male Sparrowhawk glaring from the trees.
The lake opposite the new North hide had just 2 Goosander, a few Pintail and several Shoveler, Teal and a single Great White Egret.
Settling into North hide for coffee we noticed a pair of Great Crested Grebes appear from a channel and head for what looked like a nest. We kept an eye on this pair as they called to each other and flicked their heads. Would they dance? Patience paid off and a beautiful 'Grebe Dance' was performed in front of us followed by mating at the nest a couple of minutes later.
4 Cattle Egrets flew over whilst we were watching the Grebes and a stunning male Marsh Harrier hunted over the reeds.
A Kingfisher was seen from the screen further up the path and at the farm at the end of the Drove several Little Egrets mooched around the cattle. Several Fieldfares and Redwings in the fields around Westhay, I guess these will be heading back east soon.
There didn't seem to be plenty of birds around Westhay today but enjoying some top moments with nature and the walk around the reserve was a tonic for the soul!
Fieldfare, one of many plus Redwings in the fields around Weshay
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