The early clear conditions turned to fog rapidly near the 'eagle layby' on the A31 but did eventually dissipate. An unringed GWE was on Ivy Lake and there was a notable increase in Siskins and Reed Buntings around the feeders but no Redpolls nor Bramblings yet. Also a flyover Green Sandpiper
At Tern Hide a single Water Pipit, about 10 Goosanders (although the roost count was 78), the same 1w Caspian Gull as recently on the west islands, 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls plus the usual fare. A Short-eared Owl, unusual here and possibly the first since 2011 according to SW, was apparently perched briefly on the carpark noticeboard(!) before flying off and landing on the new island where it stayed hunkered down until I left.
(Plenty of gulls, with a GoBH roost count of 10,000, half B-hG, half L-bBG)
Back at Ivy North two Cettis, two Little Egrets, two (heard-only) Water Rails and the Bittern above. Finally this Roe Deer watched me cautiously from the sweeping meadow fenceline.
On the way back a brief view of a compact falcon over junction 5 looked more Merlin than Kestrel, but too brief a view to be sure.
