29th November - Strong becoming very gusty SW, cloudy showers/rain, 11C

The weather was most unkind today making the afternoon visit to the local reservoir pretty challenging.  A around the village most birds were more interested in sheltering, rather than being out too much.

On arriving at the reservoir two fisherman told me I had just missed a Bittern walking nearby, then flying off to the nearby bay.  Needless to say I did not relocate it.  At the reservoir about 45 Mallard were sheltering on the lee of the dam, most other duck were sheltering in the bay as much as possible (Gadwall 40+ and Wigeon), except the Goldeneye (9) and Coot, with a few Pochard and Tufted Duck on the open water.  You can see in the following photos how rough the open water was, with a good swell.

There were about 40 Fieldfare and 15 Redwings feeding on the hedge berries, Long-tailed Tits were working and calling in the thickets.