First Cattle Egret for the year

After yesterday's success with the gull roost at Chasewater, I felt inspired and decided to hop down the motorway to Buckinghamshire to go for a Cattle Egret.

Cattle Egret

Upon checking out the route on my new phone, I accidentley discovered that my phone has satnav on it. So, I programmed the destination in and off I went.  I was quite impressed that after 45 minutes and following my phone instructions I actually arrived at the destination.

The bird was performing to its name and in a field with cattle, while being admired by an ever increasing group of birders.  I decided to take a couple of shots, reprogramme my satnav and come home swiftly (in order to avoid any impending wrath from my birder's wife due to the fact that I am birding again....).

On the way home, I was not so impressed by the satnav, as it took me a weird long winded route home.  I think I will stick to my trusty tattered old map.

Late afternoon, we decided to take a walk round Hampton Woods, which is not that far from where we live.  It is the nearest reserve to us.  Our walks round this wood have previously been completely unproductive with just Bullfinch and Whitethroat being the highlights.  However, this evening proved different with good numbers of Starlings and Jackdaws preparing to roost, a sizable tit flock consisting of Blue Tits, Great Tits, many Long Tailed Tits and two warblers (presumably Chiff Chaff).  Two Grey Wagtails patrolled the river and two very active Goldcrests were round near the feeders and as the gloom descended, we managed to see a couple of Fallow Deer.   The journey back home took us past my Little Owl field which used to have a large log that the Owl roosted in.  Fortunately, the Owl has found a new home in another dead tree in a field nearby.