Brookie's Diary

• Saturday, November 17, 2007 - Potteric Carr

A day out away at Potteric Carr to try for the elusive Bittern. Arrival at the Carr was at 9am just in time for the centre to be opening. £2.50 saw us on our way in and around to the first hide. Decoy hide was our first stop. Scanning the water we soon caught Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler and Black Headed Gull for our day list. Settling down we scanned the reeds for the elusive bird and there it was at the reed edge looking for food one Bittern. Two minutes and it had a fish in it's mouth then it was lost to sight. More people came into the hide, five minutes past so I had another look and it had started too walk up the reeds it to full view I had the rest of the hide soon onto it and we were all able to enjoy great views of the elusive bird, a great start to our day. We moved and walked up towards Lower Ellers Marsh seeing Bullfinch on our way. At Lower Ellers hide we saw Pintail and Lesser Black Backed Gull and Pochard. It was a long walk around to our next hide at Piper Marsh. The woods were quiet but the few Tit flocks made up for it, these held mainly Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits. We got good views of a male Kestrel in the open area of the wood. We made it to the birdge area at Huxter Wells Marsh. Here we rested and scoped the marsh seeing more gulls but we did manage to catch Common Gull before they were put up by a Peregrine hunting the marsh, and leaving without a meal. At the centre we entrered the willow hide were the bird table is and here we were able to enjoy great views of Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Willow Tit, Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker. We had a great day out at one of Yorkshire's Nature Reserves all for £2.50, what value. 43 species for the Day, see Day List

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