Not a very good image, but an interesting bird. I am not sure if this is a dirty or a partially melanistic Barn Owl, if it is dirt the bird did not seem unduly affected by it. This bird was photographed near Chatteris in Cambridgeshire.

There are very many Meadow Pipits around the same area as the Barn Owl, possibly having been displaced as a result of the flooding in the area.

**************************************************************************************

Lea Valley country park is just outside of the London sprawl, but is an exceptional place for birds, during the winter months it is one of the most reliable places in the U.K. to see Bittern, the picture above was taken last year, but they are back at the Fishers Green watchpoint and show occasionally, Water Rail are showing well too, see below. The Pheasant was on a picnic table and very tame.

Lea Valley park is the result of landscaping what was once extensive gravel extraction workings, the flooded pits now hold good numbers of water birds, Great Crested Grebe above,  Moorhen below and large amounts of Coot.

At Rye House you are almost guaranteed sightings of Kingfisher, see header picture, as well as good views of various ducks, Heron, and at this time of year Stonechat, however the Stonechats though photographed this week were nearer home, at Sandon and Eyeworth.

Click the images above to go through to feature pages