26th NOVEMBER 2006.
WET ‘N’ WILD
A brilliant start to our visit today, I saw my first Black Redstart! We had just walked up from the ‘Leg O’ Mutton’ Nature Reserve where we had had a very wet introduction to the day. Leon had popped into the ‘little girls’ room’ to freshen up when I noticed a small bird in one of the bushes by the Entrance Lake. He appeared to be having a ‘dingdong’ with a Wren. I watched for several minutes hardly daring to breathe, I was only a few yards away. The bird then moved off a little way although still easy to see with the naked eye or ‘bins’. I scooted over to get Leon; he came back with me and managed to get a good view of the bird for a few minutes. He then flew off and vanished behind the Centre. (The bird, not Leon!).
WET ‘N’ WILD
A brilliant start to our visit today, I saw my first Black Redstart! We had just walked up from the ‘Leg O’ Mutton’ Nature Reserve where we had had a very wet introduction to the day. Leon had popped into the ‘little girls’ room’ to freshen up when I noticed a small bird in one of the bushes by the Entrance Lake. He appeared to be having a ‘dingdong’ with a Wren. I watched for several minutes hardly daring to breathe, I was only a few yards away. The bird then moved off a little way although still easy to see with the naked eye or ‘bins’. I scooted over to get Leon; he came back with me and managed to get a good view of the bird for a few minutes. He then flew off and vanished behind the Centre. (The bird, not Leon!).
ENTRANCE LAKE RAINBOW
Photo; Reg Norman
We went to the front door where we were soon joined by our friends, Terry and Liz. We told them about the wet start to the day and the Black Redstart. After going inside we split up, Terry and Liz to the Observatory and Leon and I to the ‘WWF’ hide. Normally Leon and I would have gone to the Observatory as well but we had decided to ‘bone-up’ on gulls prior to our walk/talk that we would be attending later in the week.
Reaching the hide, the first thing we did was to have some coffee from our flasks. We were quite cold and damp still from our time at the ‘Leg O’ Mutton’ and needed warming up. Well, we made a start of sorts and tried vainly to make head or tail of the different gulls on view. As beginners we found it all quite confusing! Also, I may be wrong but I am not entirely sure that ‘Collins’ (great book that I think it is) is the ideal book to start learning about gull identification. We also had one other problem. The weather had once again deteriorated to such an extent that we couldn’t see the things in any case! It had grown very dark again and we had some VERY heavy showers. So heavy in fact that we could see no further than about ten yards! We decided to give up and let the experts teach us!
Reaching the hide, the first thing we did was to have some coffee from our flasks. We were quite cold and damp still from our time at the ‘Leg O’ Mutton’ and needed warming up. Well, we made a start of sorts and tried vainly to make head or tail of the different gulls on view. As beginners we found it all quite confusing! Also, I may be wrong but I am not entirely sure that ‘Collins’ (great book that I think it is) is the ideal book to start learning about gull identification. We also had one other problem. The weather had once again deteriorated to such an extent that we couldn’t see the things in any case! It had grown very dark again and we had some VERY heavy showers. So heavy in fact that we could see no further than about ten yards! We decided to give up and let the experts teach us!
'WWF' TOWARDS 'WILDLIFE'. NO GULL I.D!
Photo: Leon Rusk.
We had made arrangements to meet up with Terry and Liz for coffee at the restaurant for eleven o’clock and having some time to spare we decided to check the feeder area and then go to the Observatory. All the time there was a light rain falling but Leon had noticed much blacker clouds moving our way. We made a dash for the Observatory and just made it as the heavens opened! Once again we could see very little, even the ducks were taking shelter!
We joined Terry and Liz in the restaurant and chatted about this and that including what cameras we used when getting photos for our blogs. Leons’ is quite a good one but the one that I use is a cheap old film camera or Sues’ (relatively) cheap digital thingy. Terry and Liz, both regulars at WWT, would not be around next week as they are going to Rutland Water; we hope that they have a good time.
We joined Terry and Liz in the restaurant and chatted about this and that including what cameras we used when getting photos for our blogs. Leons’ is quite a good one but the one that I use is a cheap old film camera or Sues’ (relatively) cheap digital thingy. Terry and Liz, both regulars at WWT, would not be around next week as they are going to Rutland Water; we hope that they have a good time.
FLOODED GRAZING MARSH
Photo; Reg Norman
We left them to move on to the ‘Wildlife’ hide. Again we could not see much as the weather kept closing in and we had torrential rain intermittently for the time that we were there. The water levels are now at the highest that either Leon or I have ever seen. We have seen the Grazing marsh flooded before but he whole of the site seems to be under water and following all the rain that we have had even the lawn areas are looking like miniature lakes!
We thought that we might just try the ‘Peacock Tower’ just in case we might see a Snipe or two when one was pointed out to us, just outside the ‘Wildside’ hide. We still moved on to the tower though, just in case. On the way back we missed going to the ‘Headley’ hide as we have not had much luck there of late!
On the way to the tower we stopped once again at the feeder area. Again we were able to see lots of different small birds including a large flock of Chaffinches. We could hear Long Tailed Tits but we were destined not to see them. In the hedge bank next to the Main Lake we came across lots of Blackbirds in a flock, probably about a dozen or so bids in all. We had never seen a group as large as this before. Also in the group was a Mistle Thrush!
We thought that we might just try the ‘Peacock Tower’ just in case we might see a Snipe or two when one was pointed out to us, just outside the ‘Wildside’ hide. We still moved on to the tower though, just in case. On the way back we missed going to the ‘Headley’ hide as we have not had much luck there of late!
On the way to the tower we stopped once again at the feeder area. Again we were able to see lots of different small birds including a large flock of Chaffinches. We could hear Long Tailed Tits but we were destined not to see them. In the hedge bank next to the Main Lake we came across lots of Blackbirds in a flock, probably about a dozen or so bids in all. We had never seen a group as large as this before. Also in the group was a Mistle Thrush!
MISERABLE DAY AT THE OBSEVATORY
Photo; Reg Norman
As we were about to approach the tower a lady came to us and said that a Bittern had been sighted at the ‘Headley’ hide! About to retrace our steps we were glad to see Terry and Liz coming our way with large grins on their faces. “They know!” said Leon. Indeed they did and were able to put us right about the ‘sighting’. It would appear that somebody had seen a Bittern FROM the ‘Headley’ hide but it was outside the ‘WWF’ hide or thereabouts! We stepped inside.
We could see neither hide nor hair of the bird and many of the regulars were beginning to turn up, also looking for the elusive bird. We never did see it and so went on to the tower for a quick look around.
I scanned the reed banks along the edge of the Main Lake but could see no Bittern although I did get a quick glimpse of a Water Rail.
We made our way back to the centre where we said goodbye to terry who was trying out a ‘scope from ‘In Focus’. We had been caught in yet another downpour and so decided to go to the ‘office’ to warm up and dry off.
We could see neither hide nor hair of the bird and many of the regulars were beginning to turn up, also looking for the elusive bird. We never did see it and so went on to the tower for a quick look around.
I scanned the reed banks along the edge of the Main Lake but could see no Bittern although I did get a quick glimpse of a Water Rail.
We made our way back to the centre where we said goodbye to terry who was trying out a ‘scope from ‘In Focus’. We had been caught in yet another downpour and so decided to go to the ‘office’ to warm up and dry off.
LEON IN THE OBSERVATORY
Photo: Reg Norman
BIRDS SEEN: Ring Necked Parakeet, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Wren, Black Redstart, Canada goose, Lapwing, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Shoveller, Great Crested Grebe, Teal, Mallard, Starling, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, herring Gull, Tufted Duck, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Cormorant, Ruddy Duck, Jay, Little Grebe, Pochard, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Gadwall, Common Snipe, Greylag Goose, Meadow Pipit, Water Rail, Mistle Thrush, Wigeon.
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