Back to the Northern Water Thrush

On Sunday 14th January, having missed out on pics durung the frantic rugby scrum on Friday 5th January's visit sacrificing the use of camera scope & tripod just to get a glimpse with bins, I was keen to go back to the NWT and I promptly took up John H's kind offer of a trip back, so we could both get pics. John quite rightly was keen to get there at first light, so at 5.10am this morning he kindly picked me up from home and we eventually arrived at Daisy Meadows Car Park at Heybridge at around 7.10am and it was still dark as we had to use a torch to use the ticket machine, Justin L was there too. Half an hour later after a 1.2 mile walk along the river, through a house estate, we reached the creek where there was already around 40 people. It was only just starting to get light and the excellent Northern Water Thrush was feeding along the farside of the dyke and it was regularly feeding, moving all the time, lightly pumping its tail. When it flew we heard a Dipper like "twoc twoc" call was heard, very distinctive. It gradually made its way along the far side of the bank towards us and very close but in pre dawn light, it then flew back along the creek and and disappeared, we late learnt it flew across the road and over the houses. 7.34- 7.50am, At 8.21-8.25am we initially heard the "twoc twoc" call and flew to the middle of the dyke and was feeding from reed stems in the middle of the water, before flying off again. Finally at 11.20am- 11.24am it flew to the middle of the dyke again feeding from the reed stems in the water before flying to the farside appearing closer again but unfortunately a car travelling down the road jammed its horn on and the bird flushed and flew down the dyke. Whilst we waited between the second and third showings, it was amazing to see a Marsh Harrier fly over and toward the industial estate. Whilst in the bush near us, I spotted first 1 and the 2 Cetti's Warblers showing briefly out in the open mainly around the base of this bush. It was really good to see and chat with Justin L, Julie, Rob Win and Matthew D. Driving back in Suffolk in the field just west of the road, before Stratford St. Andrew, I saw 4+ Fieldfares in a stubble field. Thanks to John for the excellent driving.