Monkeying around at Aldringham Walks!

On Sunday 6th February late morning, I finally surfaced after I had experienced disturbed sleep over the 3 nights Tues/Wed & Thurs of the previous week, the night before last on Thursday night a storm had rattled the velox windows where I had been staying in Wales, with the rain beating down on them like a drummer beating drum skins all night (fine for a concert but not when you trying to get to sleep!), so I didn't get a wink of sleep! Fully laden up with coffee the next morning, I was able to drive back safely the whole 343 miles back to Lowestoft from Llanddarog in South Wales. So back to Sunday 6th February, news broke of a male Ring-necked Duck on Aldringham Reservoir near Sizewell. It was yet another reservoir with no general access, something I seem to be specialising in visiting at the moment!) I thought it was a new bird for me in Suffolk (forgetting I had alredy seen a female at Bawdsey, 15 April 2001), I had missed a male at Benacre Broad in October 1984. So having checked with Jane F, who I know had walked this area, thanks to her help and directions, I then knew exactly where to go. So, an an hour later, I drew up by the entrance to Sizewell Hall and walked west along a path and then a vehicular bridleway for approx. 1/2 mile, I then saw a life saving belt which was a good sign and a large Sycamore with a human up it scoping something, so it was definitely the tree! He introduced himself as Mike C, who I'd met before and knew of. Mike said the bird was in the far north- west corner of the Broad. Problem was I couldn't get a safe purchase up the tree let alone balancing a scope too. It was very precarious purchase! Another problem was the sun was shining directly towards us, so we had to ait until the sun was completely clouded over to view. Mike C said there was no other way of viewing the reservoir but there was one another tree I could try half way around the reservoir (clockwise) if the broken fence hadn't been mended, unfortunately it was. So we went back to the orignal lone Sycamore tree and after Mike had left I went up the tree again hanging onto one branch and pushing the scope against a branch, I finally had a secure purchase with a hold of the tree with one arm and the other used to push a steady enough scope against a trunk so I could scan the far north-west corner of the reservoir. Lots of Tufted Duck c30 seen, c10 Pochard and then I saw it the fine male Ring- necked Duck swimming right and soon out of sight, with identifying features including a bubble on the head, grey sides to the body, bordered by a white spur separating the grey sides from the black breast. The whole climbing up a tree I found personally was quite precarious and dangerous, I don't like heights either & especially with the increasing wind and now rain lashing down so that was it for me, I had to forgo the Scaup, I couldn't see it, so I climbed carefully & safely down and walked off. This was easily the most difficult viewing conditions I have ever witnessed in viewing a bird and quite dangerous too. Not recommended. On the wayback, I drove back via Lymballs Lane, Westleton and saw the 8 Whooper Swans again, in the same field but slightly further back this time.