I'd just connected with the new in pair of Pintail that were the latest arrivals to the flashes and was taking in the sunshine when I heard them first call. Not believing what I'd heard I listened hard and a minute later they called again. Now in full panic mode the adrenalin was pumping I scanned the nearby reeds for any sign of the Fu Manchus...
What seemed like ages past, probably 4-5 minutes when I got a glimpse of something moving through the reedbed. Boom!!, two Bearded Parrotbills skulking deep among the reeds. Instantly they called a third time then flew...and kept on flying...and gaining height!!! (what was going on)...they flew over the nearby wood and higher and higher!!...till I lost them to view, heading in a Haydn's Pool type direction. Their wings buzzing almost like Bees. Surely they were migrating northwards, possibly to the Wizzal or maybe Leighton Moss we'll never know...amazing stuff.
A first patch record and our second new patch lifer after the January Green-winged Teal...what a start to the patch birding year. Spring to come...
#PWC 76 species 82 points (only 2 for the Parrotbills there's no justice)
TTFN
