Will it Ever Get Warm

Sculthorpe was bitterly cold, not a strong north wind but a bone chiller. 1C was the highest reading all morning. I thoroughly enjoyed our two hours on the reserve but still hadn't warmed through by the time I got home.
The Frank Jarvis hide did not reward our patience, a handful of common woodland birds only. We were very surprised to find a large and fully open scarlet Elf Cap fungus near Old Gits corner (I hate that name). One Treecreeper and several Long tailed Tits en route to Whitley Hide, a single Little Egret along the stream. We sat on a dedicated bench with a clear view across the river to a large cleared area beyond, hoping for a Willow Tit really as we'd seen one here before. Amazing... a Goshawk rose from the right hand wood, spiralled lazily upwards and drifted off left. My best views ever, much closer and just as lengthy as at Ollie's farm. Time to study the longer tail and protruding head, a bulkier bird than Sparrowhawk.
Whitley Hide is usually worth the visit in itself. Three Bullfinches including two males fed on the bird table, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, a Water Rail on the ground below. A nearby nest box held a Tawny Owl sitting fully exposed in the open section. I didn't carry my camera............! Mainly because it was such a dull day. If only. I have never photographed Bullfinch nor Goshawk nor Tawny Owl.