New Year list starts at Rye Meads and Amwell

 Early start and arrived at Stanstead Innings at first light. Usual fare as I wandered around to the Otter Hide near the River Lea. Nothing unusual here but the light was better so some pleasing shots of Gadwall and Cormorant.

The website stated that Rye Meads reserve was closed, so I decided against walking all the way around via the water treatment works. Long walk to discover I couldn't access the reserve, so back to the car and I drove around. Not only was it open, but the busiest I have ever seen it. 

Not too much on the board so I headed off to visit the hides. Again, nothing unexpected until a small bird flew overhead as I came out of the Kingfisher Hub. It dipped down into a row of willows near the boardwalk and was lost to view. Spent half an hour checking for this bird to confirm it was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker but was unable to find it. Later in the day it showed well and some lucky souls got photos.

A female Blackcap by the Ashby Hide was pleasing before a final check on the Draper Hide but just Shoveler, Gadwall, single duck pochard and a Green woodpecker.

Off to Amwell in what remained good light until around 2.15 when it clouded over. Again, expected birds here, with Long Tailed tits everywhere. Highlight was two pairs of Red crested pochard.

 Red kites and Common buzzards overhead and a Kestrel on the way home with plenty of photos to process.

Egyptian goose at the Yachting Club

BHG, Amwell

LBBG, Amwell

Red Kite high over Hollycross Lake

Long tailed tit, Amwell

Redwing, Amwell

Very distant Red crested Pochard pair

Tufted duck

Cormorant

LBBG, Rye Meads

Lapwings from the Gadwall Hide

Blue tit from the Kingfisher Hub

Drake mallard portrait

Coot

Female Mallard portrait

Well hidden Green Woodpecker

Shoveler

Canada Goose, Rye Meads

Jay, Stanstead Innings

GSW near the Yachting Club

Series of a Gadwall having morning wash in low light from the Shoveler Hide, Stanstead Innings

Another Long tailed tit

Cormorant from the Otter Hide

Drake Gadwall from the Otter Hide

Female Tufted duck

First light at the Yachting Club

Early morning Tufted duck

Early morning coot

Species List:

1. Great crested grebe
2. Little grebe
3. Cormorant
4. Grey heron
5. Mute swan
6. Greylag goose
7. Canada goose
8. Shelduck
9. Egyptian goose
10. Mallard
11. Gadwall
12. Teal
13. Shoveler
14. Red crested pochard
15. Tufted duck
16. Pochard
17. Red Kite
18. Common buzzard
19. Kestrel
20. Pheasant
21. Moorhen
22. Coot
23. Black headed gull
24. Herring gull
25. Lesser black backed gull
26. Common gull
27. Stock dove
28. Wood pigeon
29. Collared dove
30. Green woodpecker
31. Great spotted woodpecker
32. Lesser spotted woodpecker
33. Dunnock
34. Robin
35. Wren
36. Cetti's warbler
37. Blackcap
38. Blackbird
39. Song thrush
40. Mistle thrush
41. Redwing
42. Long tailed tit
43. Great tit
44. Blue tit
45. Coal tit
46. Chaffinch
47. Goldfinch
48. House sparrow
49. Starling
50. Jay
51. Magpie
52. Rook
53. Carrion crow
54. Jackdaw