I arrived in the Old Centre's car park and met Steve Routledge. He soon informed me of all the good birds away from Far Ings. With the hiss of deflation only seconds away a buzzard came into veiw, a good bird and a good bird at far Ings; great start, puncture mended.
He departed to search for specialist reedbed species as we both registered the singing chiffchaff nearby (one of the three I had today). I kept to my big sky plan, a big sky from which 8 siskin dropped into an alder as I left the car park.
The red crested pochard did not show for me (it did to Steve later) and I meandered on to Chowder's southern bank. After a short while a red kite came over the River, to the west, and headed towards Read's Island. It was forced to detour as a gull harassed it and came closer, another good bird, no a GREAT BIRD.
As I left Chowder I came across a black redstart around Chowder Farm's outbuildings. After a bit of a run around it gave me great views, an adult male, and the texts were flying around. As I watched it climbed away into the 'big sky' and headed west with purpose. I informed Steve as he scampered towards the site. It returned, he text later and I believe it was there or the rest of the day, another good bird.
To better my day I poppped to Worlaby and took a look at the bean geese. Whilst there I recieved a text from Many West [firecrest at Far Ings - Target PIt hedge] and off I went. Within minutes I had caught up with it to complete a very memorable day. Even my 6 year old Son now knows what a firecrest is.

) My Son insisted on the faces.