Lifer was seeing at least 8 of the 16 reported Whimbrel on the wet grassland!
Also saw a Short-eared Owl in the 10 mins before the parents arrived to drag me away kicking and screaming from the reserve!
Corn Bunting on greenery along path to the 360 Hide and the other one I can't remember the name of
Also:
Grey Heron - 3
Little Egret - 1
Moorhen - 3
Coot - loads
Canada Goose - 30
Greylag Goose - 20
Mute Swan - 15
Shoveler - few
Gadwall - one pair
Mallard - many
Wigeon - 3
Teal - 1
Shelduck - many
Tufted Duck - 30
Avocet - few
Greenshank - 1
Curlew - 5
Redshank - plenty
Oystercatcher - 8
Lapwing - 15, possibly more
Swallow - 2 on reserve, 3 on journey there
Goldfinch - 2 on reserve
Skylark - 3
Reed Bunting - 5
Yellow Wagtail - 1 s
Pied wagtail - 1
Red-legged Partridge - 1 pair on fields outside reserve
Pheasant - lots in fields
Kestrel - 1 hunting on way there
Magpie - lots
Carrion Crow - in fields there and back
Rook - in fields there and back
Usual Collared Doves and Woodpigeons
Life List now 174. Could have been 177, but I couldn't for the life of me find the reported Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats or Blackcaps reported! Scoured the hedges at the back of the reserve to no avail. Heard weird birdsong that I THINK was a couple of the species but not at all certain or genned-up. Also, Little Stint and Spotted Redshank reported.