Cetti's back at the patch

Another day that I'd rather just forget frankly. 1 ringed Cetti's Warbler foraging along the Colne was my first sight record at the patch, and the first I've heard here for a long time. It showed well out in open on the vegetation overhanging the river for about an hour, but was just a little too distant for pin sharp photos. Also 1 Water Pipit (seen in flight calling), 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Chiffchaff, 2-3 Goldcrest, lots of Wrens, Robins, and Long-tailed Tits, and 1 Little Grebe were also seen along the Colne.

My first sight record of Cetti's Warbler at Staines Moor. The bird was on the
opposite bank of the Colne so these images are heavily cropped.

This bird is ringed but unfortunately I couldn't make out the number

It was very showy at times and seemed to find the impeccably clean Colne a
good foraging spot

Little Egret late afternoon along the Colne

Overhead, 70 (53S, 13N, 4NW) Fieldfare were logged, 1 Skylark S, and c8 Linnet came in the from the west and landed on the moor. A splash around in the floods produced just 2 Common Snipe (and some prints) and 1m Pheasant. Also seen: 2-3 Short-eared Owls (2 accidentally flushed and another, or one of the same, seen a little later), 1m Stonechat, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1+ Grey Heron and a Red Fox.

Common Snipe prints in patch of snow on the south flood

3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers giving each other hassle!

On Stanwell Moor 1 Redwing, a few Fieldfare, 1 Pied Wagtail over E and a Water Rail was heard, and at Stanwell Moor Village 1f Siskin in with a Goldfinch flock and 1 Little Egret were noted.

I left the moor at 16:00 as I was freezing by this point. Half an hour later a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen by another birder quartering the moor and catching prey. Hen Harrier is one of the birds I was hoping to find at the moor this winter (along with Long-eared Owl). It seems my run of bad luck continues and I am completely and utterly gutted!

Noted on the way home: 1 Common Buzzard E over M25 near M3 junction, and a Tawny Owl flew E over the A3 just south of Esher junction.

Weather: Overcast (8 oktas), calm a.m. & SE wind freshening p.m., cold (just above freezing).