Benacre Trip 2

On Sunday 20th October, at first light I walked down to Benacre Broad from Covehithe and as I approached the wood from a Broome bush to the right, I heard "chacking" and saw a fine female Ring Ouzel look out and then she flew west, this was just some 30 metres prior ie. south of the woods by benacre Broad hide. I walked down to the Broad and the adult Whooper Swan was initially in the north-east corner but swam to the middle section of the beach side of the Broad, it was with Mute Swans and Canada Geese so no chance of getting any closer so I stayed in the south east corner. At 9.10am, the family party of 6 Whooper Swans (2 adults and 4 immatures) flew in from the south and headed for the north-east part of the Broad and landed near the beach, by some Canada Geese. Rob M. walked along the beach. from the north and the lone adult Whooper Swan swam a little nearer to me and the sun briefly came out. Walking to the hide, I joined Rob M and he said he had 3 Red- crested Pochards amongst the duck, I scoped them and I was very pleased to find an additional male in full plumage, so 4 Red- crested Pochards (2 males & 2 females) in all. A great tally of this southern Mediterranean species (& hopefully not fence hoppers from a nearby wildfowl collection?) Amongst the ducks there were around 300 Coot, c400 Wigeon and 3 male Pintails, with at least 2 Great crested Grebes and a single Little Grebe. Whilst by the close reeds just to the right of the hide, a female Stonechat and then a male Stonechat perched high up on a reeds and flew up and hovered in the air briefly. Also seen were up to 4 'tpinging' Bearded Tits flying across right and into the same patch of reeds. When Female Marsh harriers flew over, the Wigeon would take to flight whilst the Coot flock huddled together, safety in numbers?