Back at the Fen: lots to see!

The gloomy overcast suggested there might be some migrants on the coast, but I felt like a spot of patching, so spent a couple of hours at Strumpshaw & Buckenham (The latter is a birdfree zone and utter waste of time until the raising of the river bank is complete)

Fen Hide contained a few of the regulars and immediately produced terrific close views of a confiding Water Rail. A distant Bittern added to the interest, while a Kingfisher did his best for us, posing on the only perch that has any water under it!

The walk round to Tower Hide was enlivened by the sight of a vast shoal of Rudd by the sluice: literally tens of thousands, up to around 400g.

Tower Hide scrape held over 1000 Greylags and a few Canadas, as well as 200+ Shovellers and Teal. Eight Snipe and a dozen Ruff were of note, while 5 Herons fishing together isn't a common sight here.

A last glance from Reception Hide produced extremely distant views of a pair of Hobbies wheeling about together, as well as the first returning Wigeon I've seen at the Fen this Summer / Autumn.