Therfield and Rye Meads

An early start found me walking around Therfield Heath near Royston just after 7a.m. Blowing hard and persistent drizzle were not pleasant, nor conducive to short eared owls and hen harriers being on the wing. So it proved, no sightings and basically not much at all on show. A few linnets, a covey of grey partridge and assorted finches and corvids were all I got + my first skylarks of the year. Year lister 110.
So, wet and cold, off to the Silver Ball transport cafe for a good breakfast and mug of coffee before a quick trip to Rye Meads.
Here, I just missed a good view of a bittern. It had been out in the open before a chap moved nearby which sent it wandering into the reeds and out of view. Duck; pochard, mallard, tufted shoveler, teal, gadwall and many black headed gulls were on show as well as 2 green sandpipers from the tern hide.

Photos here show a robin, 2 of tufted duck in bright sunlight, sleeping pochard, drake shoveler and distant green sandpipers on an island with some teal.
The green sandpipers became year lister number 111.