Back for another bite

Before Xmas a black-throated thrush dropped into Whipsnade zoo. It attracted many hundreds of admirers and generated a nice income stream for the zoo from all the entrance fees - including ours!! It hung on and on, feasting on the cotoneaster bush by the childrens' Hullabazoo area, past Boxing day and into the New Year. Cue not a new stream of admirers but the same people now coming back to get it onto their 2020 list! It is estimated that by now the bird could have generated over £40,000 in revenue to the zoo.
I finally cracked today and set off for a repeat pilgrimage to Whipsnade. I got there at 9.50 just before it opened and joined the queue of mixed twitchers and grandchildren on a day out! I parked up and headed off on the short walk to the favoured area, where 10 people were already pointing 'scopes and cameras at the tree. Early doors though and the only sign of life was a lone mara snootily observing us from under the tree.

I was deep in conversation with a fellow twitcher, who turned out to be a zoo keeper from the 70's and 80's, when 4 people came and joined us. The bird had turned up in a neighbouring tree and was studying its potential breakfast.

It posed nicely for 2 or 3 minutes allowing everyone to get a good look at before it flew the 5 yards to the berry-laden tree. Well, to be precise the tree was berry-laden but was getting more depleted every day as it munched its way through them.

For 5 minutes it was blown around in the strong wind, heartily tucking into the berries. It would pluck one, position it in its beak, then throw back its head and swallow it.

Either it became full or the few children around spooked it and it flew off, disappearing for 20 minute or so. Then, as before, it reappeared in the nearby bush before returning for a mid-morning snack.

With it settled in again I decided to leave and go after two more year ticks relatively nearby. First was a great-grey shrike at Brogborough lakes, some 20 miles away. The location had been described to me by my zookeeper friend and that it could be quite distant. He wasn't wrong. The bird was in a hedge I guess half a mile away!!!!

Its on top of the hedge to the right of the telegraph pole - trust me!! I didn't want to go chasing it across muddy fields so I left for my third target. This was a ring-necked duck at Great Barford. These are becoming relatively common if not numerous in the UK now, being more readily found in the USA.
After a bit of confusion I found where it was lurking, a small gravel pit across a muddy sheep field. It was associating with the resident tufted ducks with whom it seemed on quite friendly terms.

Confusingly they don't have any obvious ring on their necks but do have a very pleasingly marked bill and a pointy head. I followed it round the lake for an hour or so but the whole flock were quite wary and swam off if either myself or any of the other birders got too close to them.
With the skies starting to darken and rain promised I headed back to the car. Three good year ticks, especially the thrush. One week into the new year and I'm up to 69. Not bad and a trip to Norfolk should get that up to 100. I would say a lifer would be a nice start to the New Year but I've already got one - an armchair tick of Hudsonian whimbrel. This was a full species, then became a sub-species but is apparently a full species again. So, I can tick it again!!!