1st DECEMBER 2006.
WINTER DUCK WALK.
Not too early a start for once, we arrived at the Centre for opening time (09:30) and were greeted with a ‘battle royal’ at the main gates. A Carrion Crow and a Magpie were having a right old scrap just inside the sports ground. The Maggie was giving as good as he got but looked on very shaky ground as the other black shapes started to wheel in around the combatants. Fortunately he was able to get away and hide in a relatively thickly covered Holly tree. It was interesting to see the Crows take up positions around the Holly, thus denying the Magpie any escape route. There appeared to be lots going on elsewhere and so the Crows soon lost interest in what could be a long, drawn out siege. They moved away and the Magpie slid off keeping a low profile!
WINTER DUCK WALK.
Not too early a start for once, we arrived at the Centre for opening time (09:30) and were greeted with a ‘battle royal’ at the main gates. A Carrion Crow and a Magpie were having a right old scrap just inside the sports ground. The Maggie was giving as good as he got but looked on very shaky ground as the other black shapes started to wheel in around the combatants. Fortunately he was able to get away and hide in a relatively thickly covered Holly tree. It was interesting to see the Crows take up positions around the Holly, thus denying the Magpie any escape route. There appeared to be lots going on elsewhere and so the Crows soon lost interest in what could be a long, drawn out siege. They moved away and the Magpie slid off keeping a low profile!
THE ENTRANCE LAKE
Photo; Reg Norman
Having entered the site we, of course, made our way to the Observatory. We had a quick check around and got ourselves ready for our visit. We were having trouble seeing anything as the light was appalling and we were already feeling apprehensive about the viewing conditions for later on. Leon noted that there were lots of gulls so we would not be short of subjects for discussion.
VISITING BIRD CLUBBERS, HEADLEY HIDEPhoto: Reg Norman
'MAGIC' MUSHROOMS
We met up with the other members of the ‘Winter Duck Walk’ after having a look at all the usual places. The light was still moving between very bad and atrocious!
Our mentor for the event was Mr Neil Anderson and he was soon to prove a most remarkable fount of knowledge. It is, of course, one thing to be in possession of the amount of information that these chaps carry but to be able to impart that knowledge to others is surely a gift. Once again we were to be entertained as well as being instructed about our wildfowl and other natural heritage. Both Leon and I (and the others in our small group) were spellbound by the non-stop flow of information from somebody who obviously loves his subject!
Our meagre knowledge of waterfowl was soon being boosted by our host, indeed it had started before the ‘walk’ had commenced! Whilst waiting for the ‘off’, we were whisked inside the Observatory by one of the site stewards ‘to see something unusual’. We were shown a hybrid duck (Ring Necked Duck / Tufted Duck) for which I personally could see nothing special about. Mr Anderson, however, was soon pointing out all of he differences that made this duck ‘special’. (I must admit to feeling a little smart about being able to pick out the bird on the following day!)
After the walk had finished we spoke to Mr Anderson about ‘birding’ in general and said that we would keep in touch via the London Natural History Society website. We will certainly try to make some of their day trips to different sites and hopefully enrol as members in the New Year.
We mooched about for the remainder of the day having quite a few good sightings in different areas of the site.
Our mentor for the event was Mr Neil Anderson and he was soon to prove a most remarkable fount of knowledge. It is, of course, one thing to be in possession of the amount of information that these chaps carry but to be able to impart that knowledge to others is surely a gift. Once again we were to be entertained as well as being instructed about our wildfowl and other natural heritage. Both Leon and I (and the others in our small group) were spellbound by the non-stop flow of information from somebody who obviously loves his subject!
Our meagre knowledge of waterfowl was soon being boosted by our host, indeed it had started before the ‘walk’ had commenced! Whilst waiting for the ‘off’, we were whisked inside the Observatory by one of the site stewards ‘to see something unusual’. We were shown a hybrid duck (Ring Necked Duck / Tufted Duck) for which I personally could see nothing special about. Mr Anderson, however, was soon pointing out all of he differences that made this duck ‘special’. (I must admit to feeling a little smart about being able to pick out the bird on the following day!)
After the walk had finished we spoke to Mr Anderson about ‘birding’ in general and said that we would keep in touch via the London Natural History Society website. We will certainly try to make some of their day trips to different sites and hopefully enrol as members in the New Year.
We mooched about for the remainder of the day having quite a few good sightings in different areas of the site.
'MAGIC' MUSHROOMSPhoto; Reg Norman
We would both heartily recommend anybody to go on one of these walks at any time. To be in the company of people such as Mr Anderson and to be taught by people with such passion for their chosen subject is a wonderful experience!
We had picked up so much information that we thought that we would adjourn to ‘the office’ to talk it all over. It was quiet here and we were most appreciative of it!
BIRDS SEEN: Carrion Crow, Magpie, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Greenfinch, Feral Pigeon, heron, Cormorant, Lapwing, Shoveller, Tufted Duck, Ruddy Duck, Starling, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull (greaslii, intermedius), Herring Gull, Teal, Pochard, Canada Goose, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Common Snipe, Wigeon, Stonechat, Gadwall, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Long Tailed Tit, Ring Necked Parakeet, Mistle Thrush, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Greylag Goose, Pintail, Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail.
Hybrids: Ring Necked Duck / Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose / Canada Goose.
We had picked up so much information that we thought that we would adjourn to ‘the office’ to talk it all over. It was quiet here and we were most appreciative of it!
BIRDS SEEN: Carrion Crow, Magpie, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Greenfinch, Feral Pigeon, heron, Cormorant, Lapwing, Shoveller, Tufted Duck, Ruddy Duck, Starling, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull (greaslii, intermedius), Herring Gull, Teal, Pochard, Canada Goose, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Common Snipe, Wigeon, Stonechat, Gadwall, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Long Tailed Tit, Ring Necked Parakeet, Mistle Thrush, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Greylag Goose, Pintail, Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail.
Hybrids: Ring Necked Duck / Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose / Canada Goose.
No comments:
Post a Comment