Out to East Chevington & Hauxley. Finally after 10 years in Northumberland we actually saw a Bearded Tit rather than heard one ! It showed briefly from the hide east of the islands on N Pool on a reed stem then flew a long way down towards the S side of N Pool keeping to the reeds. Also here were the sleeping Black-throated Diver & the sleeping Red-necked Grebe together with two Slavonian Grebes which always seem to be to close to each other, a Long-tailed Duck and a pair of Pintail. Ian Fisher arrived and let us know of an ‘eight goose fest’ at Hauxley. Off to view and in amongst the Greylags, Canadas & Pinkfeet were two Barnacle Geese, a Swan Goose & an Egyptian Goose ! Janet’s first Egyptian Goose for the county to go with the Bearded Tit, almost like being back in Norfolk. We missed the other two species i.e. two Tundra Bean Geese and the long staying escape Lesser White-front. All the geese were showing well in the fields to S of reserve. TRD/JD
