There was a heavy frost overnight and the sky was a clear pale blue as we waited for the bus. Today was going to be a fairly short visit to WWT as I was meeting Tim to go to the Johnny Haynes Memorial Service in Hammersmith a little later in the day. I must admit to feeling a little chilly as I didn’t have all my cold-weather gear on.
On arrival we quickly made our way to the Wildside Hide stopping briefly to look for ‘Disco Duck’. We found him but he was not playing today! Whilst at his pool we noticed a Moorhen doing a ‘tightrope’ walk along the top of a very narrow fence. Neither Leon nor myself had ever seen anything like this before. As we were commenting on this strange sight another two appeared following the first! It takes all your life to see something like that, and then loads come all at once.
From the ‘Wildside Hide’ we had a good view of some Snipe that were resting only a few metres from the hide. We also had a very good view of a Green Woodpecker that was grubbing around by the path that we had just come along.
On the way back, passing through ‘Wildside’, we had what I think was the best experience of the morning. We were attracted to a stand of trees by very noisy flock of birds. There seemed to be many different types of song although it was mainly dominated by the distinctive chattering sound of finches. Although we could see the many little creatures hopping about in the trees, looking through the binoculars seemed to render them almost invisible! Once you had one in your sights however it as easy to watch it feeding on the seeds. The flock consisted of Siskin, Goldfinch, a few Chaffinches and to my delight some Long-Tailed Tits. I had seen Long-Tailed Tits before but never this close. They are a lovely soft pink colour.
After having a quick hot drink at the restaurant we made our way to the ‘Peacock Tower’. From here we were able to view the Bittern again as well as a Water Rail and some more Snipe.
Making our way back we quickly popped round to the feeder area where we saw lots more finches. We also saw a Dunnock (a first for me I believe) and I was mightily surprised by its’ song. They have a lovely song; in fact it was this that drew our attention to it.
Before leaving the Centre we had to go to the shop to pick up Leons’ birdseed and a coat that he had purchased. He had left it behind the counter to save carrying it all over the site. Total confusion. Total embarrassment. Leon kept on at the poor chap behind the counter saying, “It’s in the bag”.
“Which bag?” says the chap.
“The one with the coat in!” says our Leon. “And it has some seed in it” he adds helpfully.
“I can’t see it,” says the chap.
“IT’S IN THE BAG. AT THE BACK!” Leon says. “THE WWT BAG!”
People were looking.
“There are several bags, sir! All WWT bags!” said the chap.
“ Good! Its’ the one with the coat in it!”
He got his coat. And his seed. The girl who had originally served him had split his order into several bags to make carrying them easier!
We left the Centre. Leon came along to the ‘Chancellors Arms’ where I was to meet Tim prior to going to the Memorial Service. Only to keep me company, of course, in case Tim was late.
BIRDS SEEN: Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Coot, Moorhen, Ruddy Duck, Whooper, Bewick and Mute Swans, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Lapwing, Green Woodpecker, Siskin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Long-Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Heron, Bittern, Dunnock, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Cormorant, Chaffinch, Common Snipe, Pochard, Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Water Rail, Gadwall, Shoveller, Feral Pigeon, Wren, Tufted Duck, Jackdaw.
On arrival we quickly made our way to the Wildside Hide stopping briefly to look for ‘Disco Duck’. We found him but he was not playing today! Whilst at his pool we noticed a Moorhen doing a ‘tightrope’ walk along the top of a very narrow fence. Neither Leon nor myself had ever seen anything like this before. As we were commenting on this strange sight another two appeared following the first! It takes all your life to see something like that, and then loads come all at once.
From the ‘Wildside Hide’ we had a good view of some Snipe that were resting only a few metres from the hide. We also had a very good view of a Green Woodpecker that was grubbing around by the path that we had just come along.
On the way back, passing through ‘Wildside’, we had what I think was the best experience of the morning. We were attracted to a stand of trees by very noisy flock of birds. There seemed to be many different types of song although it was mainly dominated by the distinctive chattering sound of finches. Although we could see the many little creatures hopping about in the trees, looking through the binoculars seemed to render them almost invisible! Once you had one in your sights however it as easy to watch it feeding on the seeds. The flock consisted of Siskin, Goldfinch, a few Chaffinches and to my delight some Long-Tailed Tits. I had seen Long-Tailed Tits before but never this close. They are a lovely soft pink colour.
After having a quick hot drink at the restaurant we made our way to the ‘Peacock Tower’. From here we were able to view the Bittern again as well as a Water Rail and some more Snipe.
Making our way back we quickly popped round to the feeder area where we saw lots more finches. We also saw a Dunnock (a first for me I believe) and I was mightily surprised by its’ song. They have a lovely song; in fact it was this that drew our attention to it.
Before leaving the Centre we had to go to the shop to pick up Leons’ birdseed and a coat that he had purchased. He had left it behind the counter to save carrying it all over the site. Total confusion. Total embarrassment. Leon kept on at the poor chap behind the counter saying, “It’s in the bag”.
“Which bag?” says the chap.
“The one with the coat in!” says our Leon. “And it has some seed in it” he adds helpfully.
“I can’t see it,” says the chap.
“IT’S IN THE BAG. AT THE BACK!” Leon says. “THE WWT BAG!”
People were looking.
“There are several bags, sir! All WWT bags!” said the chap.
“ Good! Its’ the one with the coat in it!”
He got his coat. And his seed. The girl who had originally served him had split his order into several bags to make carrying them easier!
We left the Centre. Leon came along to the ‘Chancellors Arms’ where I was to meet Tim prior to going to the Memorial Service. Only to keep me company, of course, in case Tim was late.
BIRDS SEEN: Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Coot, Moorhen, Ruddy Duck, Whooper, Bewick and Mute Swans, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Lapwing, Green Woodpecker, Siskin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Long-Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Heron, Bittern, Dunnock, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Cormorant, Chaffinch, Common Snipe, Pochard, Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Water Rail, Gadwall, Shoveller, Feral Pigeon, Wren, Tufted Duck, Jackdaw.
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