Finally some more sun (didn’t think we’d be saying that after this summer), but it did provide some beautiful light after the recent grey, windy conditions. It was so nice that it lured a Bittern out of the reed bed fringe at Swineham briefly this afternoon. Bittern over-winter at Swineham every year, but they’re seldom seen, with todays views being as scarce as the Bittern themselves. At the top end of Soldiers Road a Short-eared Owl was seen again briefly before being seen heading off towards Scotland Farm area. This morning the open water species total remained good off Jerry’s Point with 1 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Eider, 9 Goldeneye and 1 Black-necked Grebe. A dawn thrush count at Lytchett Fields logged a decent movement of 654 Fieldfare and 850 Redwing. A Peregrine was hunting over the Brownsea Lagoon this morning.

Bittern in stunning late afternoon autumn sun – Swineham – Ed Betteridge 

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