The Water Rail showed for a few brief seconds this morning. Better news, and better late than never was a flyover #110 Yellowhammer. Tho annual, I’ve never had one in December before, but they’ve been getting later each year.
YBW & Chiffchaff still.

Singing Cetti’s Warbler, heard yesterday, was a new bird for the month of December.

This morning; the Yellow-browed Warbler showed very well, Water Rail and Chiffchaff heard, Redpoll over (it’s been a good autumn/winter for them).

Little Egret having a good foot paddle in the shallow stream.

The Otter found a handy feeding ledge in the wall of the old lock gate, now part of the fish ladder.

After a while searching the riverside vegetation, it changed to a more energetic task - swimming & fishing at the bottom of the new fish ladder. 🐟 🪜

Really showed itself to be a master of its realm.

The #Otter was pretty successful in hunting. Seemed to catch and eat something every minute or so. 🦦

This afternoon’s Otter could be quite confiding if approached stealthily, which of course I did. Came to within 2-3m. I could even hear it breathing

Today’s #Otter. I’m thinking could be a male, as it looked to have a broader muzzle to the one earlier in the week, also it appeared to have a less pink nose, but I’m not 100% confident.

Spent a lot of time ‘wummaging in the undagwoth’ as David Bellamy might have said.

It’s 3 months since I’ve seen any Otters. I’ve heard others have seen them recently, and a guy passing by told me he’d seen a Beaver just up river. Quickly corrected to Otter.

Anyhoo, what should come swimming up our millstream this afternoon? Amazing the difference having a bit of water makes

After not being able to find last Thursday’s Dartford Warbler at Fordham, I thought the weather window this morning might be more productive.

It was. A nice bird to bring up #200 for my 10K⭕️

A fairly dull plumaged, presumably 1st winter bird. Mostly hanging out on its own, calling occassionaly.

Finally, after some decent rain, a bit more water in the river (Lark).
If not in full spate, at least it’s in spate.
I can just see a bit of the new Fish Ladder (a.k.a. Potential Dipper habitat) from the edge of the garden.
Also today, my equal earliest returning winter Little Grebe, down river.