First, over to Beddington this morning, just in case something had dropped in overnight. Nothing to report so off to the Wetland Centre. I'd spent the best part of a day looking for Bearded Tit there last year http://surreybirding.blogspot.com/2010/11/double-dip-depression.html without luck (was then lucky to have two sightings at Beddington), and knew from long experience how elusive these birds can be in their reedbed habo.
I arrived as the Centre was opening and strolled round to the Wildside, which seemed like a good spot to start. I crossed the bridge to the Wildside hide and had a quick scan but decided outside was better. As I crossed back across the bridge, I heard the distinctive calls which immediately focused my attention on the reeds adjacent the bridge. A superb male Bearded Tit popped up for about three seconds, just enough time for me to rattle off a couple of shots, then flew across the water to the opposite patch of reeds, followed by three more. Fantastic ! My luck was in, i'd only been there about twenty mins. I could hear the birds frequently calling as they made their way through the reeds.
I put the news out and made my around to the Peacock Tower to look for other stuff. Posh phoned to say he was on his way for what, for him, would be a Surrey tick. When he arrived I made my way back to the Wildside and staked it for two hours, together with Ian 'Creamy' Bryce. No luck this time and we laughed as the pagers informed us that a Long-eared Owl had flown over the Wetland Centre going south west. Surely a Short-eared Owl at best but we didn't see anything or note anything being flushed when it went over. Later on, Creamy and I had distant views of the Bittern and the usual Cetti's and Water Rail were present. A good day.
NEW SURREY YEAR LIST RECORD = 197
The Bittern showed on the other side of the main lake
These Egyptian Geese had a big disagreement
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