A nice little sighting

Ring-necked duck still present all day on the D reservoir.  Whilst distant, good light for the first time in days revealed the drake scaup back again, along with a reported new 1st winter bird too.  The two hybrid scaup were about too, with a peak of 8 pintail.  A well spotted little gull dropping in for a brief bathe was the second uncommon winter record in a week.  The red-head smew was on Watton NR early afternoon and little egret was reported from both Hempholme and North Marsh.  Barn owl was also active in this vicinity too; Thanks to Graham Slack for these excellent photos of barn owl fortuitously encountered on the sewage plant near the wildlife centre:

The day ended with the amoeba like woodcock as ever - tonight expanding their numbers to four birds in the wildlife centre hedge - with a further one flushed from the woods.  For anyone wanting to do a bit of birding beyond Tophill, Arram Carrs just down river seems to be turning up some good birds with Tim Cowley reporting 8 Bewick's and 12 whooper swans, 4 white fronted geese, little egret and c160 pink feet over this afternoon.

Deciphering ducks event still hoping to run at 13:30 tomorrow - we'll see what the snow does!