Little Owl year tick

A lunch time start today after sorting out bits at home this morning. I went straight to the fishing boats which were bathed in sunshine where the Caspian Gull was immediately on show. On the sea only a few Auks, Grebes and Kittiwakes tooing and froing but 2-300 Cormorants were busy fishing. Again the Glaucous Gull was conspicuous by its absence.
On the ARC from the causeway 3 Smew including a smart drake, the Long Tailed Duck and fly by Bittern.

On the reserve Burrowes Pit was birdless. Not surprising as brush cutting was being done on the islands.

Christmas Dell was its usual peaceful self, with a single Common Snipe taking advantage of the newly cut reeds in front of the hide, up to 3 Marsh harriers quartering the reed beds a couple of Bearded Tits calling as was a Water Rail. The rest of the reserve was just as quiet with brief views of a Great White Egret, 4 Stonechats around the paths and 9 Tree Sparrows at the entrance.

On Walland this afternoon 2 Little Owls my first for the year, no sign of the Bewick Swans. At the Woolpack Harrier roost 4 Tufted Duck on the reservoir but no Harriers came into roost though 6+ were seen further out on the marsh and 2 Common Buzzards were seen.