Thursday January 5th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Two Great White Egrets, six Goosander and eight Shelduck. Of interest is where these GWE roost, particularly after nine Little Egrets flew in here around first light. We seem to know that these GWE are not roosting in the Middleton area and their Little Egrets are generally leaving shortly after first light and mostly leaving to the south. Perhaps there is somewhere up by Thorpe Estate or Twycross. Anyway bird news was from Simon Rose via Twitter.

Hams Hall
There is a new 'Siberian' Chiffchaff, bearing a ring, along with the first bird at the outfall. Also five Common Chiffchaffs. Along the river as far as the Ladywalk double gates were a further seven Common Chiffchaffs. Temperatures have dropped markedly for a couple of nights, resulting in this influx. A Firecrest will be next (John Harris).

Ladywalk NR
The Bittern has been elusive but showed in the sunshine today. Three drake Mandarin Ducks were clearly frozen out from their usual farm pond and were the first since 2015 here (Ken Bentley, Pete Lichfield, John Galletly et al).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: The heronry held a new record count of 59 Little Egrets tonight (John Harris & James Benwell).
Staffs: Great White Egret on Jubilee & North Pit, also five Stonechats, seven Shelducks and a solitary Golden Plover over (RSPB).

Whitacre Heath NR
A pair of Stonechats.