The big freeze

As well as allowing us to see the fabulous Bitterns, the recent cold snap has afforded some great photo opportunities around our waterways. I always take my camera with me when myself and my 'stealthy' friends are crashing through the undergrowth (think cows crossing a river) Water is always photogenic, ice it seems even more so. Here are a few shots I was quite pleased with.

Thrice Bittern

Well who would have thought it? 44 years I've been on this planet and I'd just about given up on this ridiculously rare and shy bird. Having for once made the effort to get to Roswell Pits before sun up, I was feeling pretty cheesed off to find that by 11am myself and a regular twitching partner hadn't even had so much as a glimpse of this increasingly common to Ely rarity. To say we were over the moon to end up with 3 separate sightings during the course of the day is putting it mildly (although I feel rather guilty about accidently flushing the first one out)

casual sightings

If like me, you're of a rather lazy nature, you may like to join me cataloging your bird sightings to and from work. My usual mode of transport is provided by British Rail, running from Ely to Royston Mondays to Fridays. So far I have, from my warm (if sometimes noisy) carriage, variously seen, in no particular order: Golden Pheasant, Little Egret, Ringed Plover, Buzzard, Redshank, Cormorant, Redwing, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Tufted duck, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Marsh Harrier, Hobby. These are the rarer species I've seen, but would love to hear of your sightings.

Be lucky