Paul and I paid a visit to the south of the county late this afternoon. Richards Great egret was almost hidden as it fed along the channel deep in the reedbed at the partly frozen Crickmarren Pond. Next a brief stop above Corseside nursery to scan the Corse turned up the female Marsh harrier and about 20 Stock dove. Down to Angle harbour, 30 Black-tailed godwits and 46 Pintail the pick here. Final stop at the Corse just before dusk. The Marsh harrier was still busy covering the western side of the reedbed. The other Great egret was stalking along a ditch beside a concrete water trough on the inland side beyond the pines, before flying closer towards dusk, 3-4 Little egrets were moving around, at one time it looked like they were heading out to sea but turned around, and a Cattle egret appeared after sunset and settled on a little rushy island just out from the hide. A female Hen harrier put in two appearances, on the second it was joined by a smaller ringtail, with both flying side by side for a few minutes before they drifted inland and lost to sight. Annoyingly I had been following the female harrier in the scope as it approached from Starmans end giving nice views as it drew nearer but had gone to the binoculars as it came closer and only then noticed the second bird coming in to join it, frustratingly by which time, given the failing light neither Paul or I could get anything more apart from it being clearly a lighter bird.
