66 was the total haul for new year's day at the reserve with those wanting a good start to their ’12 lists having a good day like Jess. The big highlight for most vistors was the green winged teal – visible most of the day on Watton NR – many thanks to HVWG for the pics and counts:
The green winged is in the lower left in all pictures.
The two bitterns again returned to roost at Watton too – which is where most of the day’s action was. Alan managed a picture for the Flickr page earlier in the week here. Red-head smew as ever, with three black-tailed godwit, a ruff and egyptian goose. At least 90 eurasian white-fronted geese were about and the greenland race showed for a select few. A check of the gull roost returned another mediterranean gull – HVWG:
For a full round up of gull activity and a nice montage of some of the year’s highlights visit Martin’s page.
Two short-eared owl’s showed briefly before the heavy rain of late afternoon – along with four separate barn owls – one of the Hempholme birds here: