Record shots of the Zitting Cisticola, Walberswick NNR, Suffolk this morning. Did get good scoped views as it sat on the sea buckthorn. Bittern, Hobby and Spotted Redshank were seen on a very quick visit RSPB Minsmere 🌍 afterwards.

After failing to find the Redstart at Redwell Farm last weekend, I finally found it today. Never close enough for a decent photo but it certainly looked good in the ‘scope. A Herts year tick Herts Bird News .

Shame about the light this evening. Spotted Redshank on the West Pool, King’s Meads, Hertford Herts Bird News .

Went for another fix of the Spotted Redshank at King’s Meads, Hertford this evening Herts Bird News Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

In Norfolk this weekend where I caught up with the Red-backed Shrike at Thornham, which was playing hard to get at times. Then on to RSPB Titchwell Marsh where the Great White Egret was in its usual spot at the back of the Reedbed pool and Ruff outnumbered all other waders.

More waders today RSPB Titchwell Marsh .

It’s been a tough few weeks but, finally I got out to see the Dartford Warbler at Tewin this morning Herts Bird News . A bit of patience required before it showed well with the Stonechats and Wrens.

Cattle Egret at Willows Farm this morning Herts Bird News

Went out to West Herts today Herts Bird News . 5 Tundra Bean Geese in fields East of the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal near Tring were a Hertfordshire life tick. Two White-fronted Geese nearby were a year Herts Tick.

This Redpoll on the path between Pynesfield North & South Lakes, West Hyde didn’t look very well Herts Bird News . No sign of the Ferruginous Duck there.

Happy New Year everybody A tough end to the year with Mum passing on 22nd December after a long battle with cancer. Her brave battle rather halted birding from August onwards but today I finally got a sight of the Symondswood Crossbills to take my Herts list to 203 Herts Bird News

Added 7 to the Herts list this year Herts Bird News , although one of these, the Baikal Teal at Wilstone Reservoir, remains up for debate. Plenty that got away, especially from August onwards.

Added two to the life list this year (Hudsonian Godwit and Zitting Cisticola) but I’ve dropped to 392 with all the lumping! With Scilly Pelagics booked for this year and more time to get out and about, I hope I can finally get to 400+.

Had to go to the Solicitors in Sheringham today. Would have been rude not to go and find the Eastern Black Redstart on The Esplanade NENBC British Birds RSPB RareBirdAlertUK BirdGuides

I’ve had a few visits to Symondswood Great Wood over the last couple of months and have managed to only get flight views of the Crossbills that are present there this winter. This morning, I got a bit more luck, although it’s a shame about those twigs in the way! Herts Bird News

After Symondswood, we received news of a Black-necked Grebe back home at Amwell Birding (thanks to Ron Cousins). It had disappeared behind the Island when we got there, but eventually showed nicely in front of the viewpoint. Always good to see Stuart Fox there.