ONCE BITTERN

The snoring of a new years party hangover is coming from the sofa, grabbing my bag I make my escape, slowly walking down the road, listening to the far more beautiful song of a robin, which becomes the first bird of 2011.
Travel is straight forward enough & my arrival at Cheshunt station is in the dark, this however works in my favour with a Tawny Owl being vocal, which starts the day off with a bang.
The short walk to Bowyers water, sees lots of gulls passing over head in the now dim early morning light; these are joined by flocks of Redwing and Feildfare.
The lake itself is 90% frozen, with wildfowl being compacted and easy to view, the best of these being drake Goldeneyes, throwing their heads back in winter display.
Perhaps the surprise of the day comes in the shape and sound of a Marsh Tit, my first record for the patch, it constantly calls, whilst only offering glimpses amongst the thick vegetation.
After treecreeper and bullfinch make welcome additions, I head towards Hall marsh and am greeted by a Little Egret flying overhead, which is followed seconds later by a smart drake Goosander.
The waters here are also frozen, so I walk along the channel which leads to Seventy acres; where after sometime my quarry of Smew is finally found. Up to 3 Drakes and 2 Redheads are showing distantly among the islands, whilst a female Goosander just sits on the ice and watches.
A water-rail shows particularly well below by feet, whilst a Cetti's warbler gives a short burst of song from a distant reedbed.
Finally at the Bittern hide and I have to wait a whole 2.5 seconds before a Bittern walks out into the open and ice skates along the channels.
The cryptic colours standing out against the frosty background, along with those lime green legs and straw coloured bill!! It's a real sight to behold and the star of the day without doubt....

On to the weir hide, but there is little of note, whilst the nearby feilds hold large numbers of Canada and Greylag geese, with smaller numbers of Eygptian geese.
Some of the fields had been spread with manaure & this attracted large numbers of Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Sky larks; At Holyfeild hall farm itself, things picked up with a dark phase Buzzard, Sparrow-hawk, 3 yellowhammers & 8 Red legged partridge!

With very tired legs I made my way towards Cornmill meadows and after walking through the thickest mud reached the distination.
A kingfisher speed down the river and a huge flock of around 500+ Sisken were busy feeding in the tree tops. an incredable number and incredable sight.

The light however was now extremley dark and the rain was now starting to fall in the ever colder air!
With 75 Species seen it was time to end the marathon of the day & look forward to what else the Valley will have to offer during 2011.