Although it is now July, I have chosen to start this blog from February as this was the time that my birding fires were fully re-kindled. This really happened by chance after missing the Marbury Country Park Bittern by minutes in January and my disbelief that I had never managed to see it during the course of my 3 years walking there. So next day on a very cold January morning, I sat it out at Marbury and managed to get a quick view of it as it popped out of the reeds for 30 seconds or so before disappearing for the day. A brief but magical encounter!
Then, on this my first visit to MSW for a walk with my better-half, one of the staff asked if we had seen the Bittern. Armed with the location, off we went, more in hope than anything else but within minutes of reaching the hide, out it came from its well camouflaged position to spend some considerable time wandering around feeding. What a fantastic bird! And given that there are two, possibly three that winter here, I look forward to many more visits to this remarkable place.
Other sightings included Mallards. Grey Heron, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Geese, Shelduck, Teal, a Water Rail, a pair of Goldeneye (always a joy) and the Great Crested Grebe pictured below.
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