Stop me if you think you've heard this one before

So I understand that the Coal Tit is a rare bird on the patch, and therefore I understand the pressure of reporting one. I also recall the phrase about buses, something like you wait for one and then... anyway... I saw another Coal Tit today. This time, the delightful @suzehu was with me. We stood predictably against the wooden fenceline waxing lyrical about the imminent deluge of autumn vagrants in the south and east.

I binned a bird that emerged from the thickets by the hides.  It wasn't a Great Tit, neither was it a Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Sombre Tit, Azure Tit..... it looked like a Coal Tit. Then it landed and it called, twice, and it sounded like a Coal Tit, an unflourished uncomplicated 'pees-pees' it said, which I thought was rather rude. Maybe the same bird frequenting our local environs, whatever, I just want this craziness to stop.

Such a lovely day and in good company, the sun shone brightly, and out of the breeze it was discernibly balmy. Good weather generally means a dearth of birds, but it turned out to be a pretty decent day.

Aside from the Coal Tit, a Redpoll called as it flew north . A Spotted Flycatcher then appeared which was to be joined by a second bird later in trees by the wooden canoe. It was a joy watching their feeding sorties in the bright sunshine. In the same area, a Goldcrest called and then flew over.





A wander over to the hide, where a Kingfisher was actively feeding, circulating round the beds and at times settling allowing great views. A Peregrine flew low over and away to the north, and two Reed Warbler flitted low on the reeds at the back of Bed 15. Three Shoveler were on Bed 13, two eclipse male and a female, and a Cetti's Warbler exploded into song somewhere close by.

Later, another Redpoll again flew north calling, and a Common Buzzard appeared high from the south before heading east. It was warm by now but the hope for more large raptors didn't materialise.

Three Little Egret flew up the relief channel.

Also of note were the number of Migrant Hawker on the wing, at least six enjoying the warm and Hobby-less conditions. A couple of Common Darter were also present.

@randombirder