Our visit to the Centre today was to be quite short. As usual Leon and I still had some Christmas shopping to do on Christmas Eve! It was dry, somewhat overcast, day that had a bit of a nip in the air due toa North easterly wind. This wind would prove to be more noticeable when funnelled into the hides through open windows!
Stopping t the Observatory, we noticed that most birds were either out of sight or taking shelter on the leeward side of islands, trees and shrubs etc. We spent quite some time near 'The Lodge' again in the hope of seeing the Goldcrest. Although we could hear it among the small flock of Tits and Finches, we were to be disappointed once again.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS!
Photo: Sue Blair
Walking to the 'Wildside' hide we were amazed to notice that there were hardly any other people around. There was an unnatural quiet pervading the whole area with hardly any bird sounds apart from the occasional 'peeps' from the Coots. At the hide, we could not see much as most birds, once again, seemed to be sheltering from the wind. We could see no Stonechats and most strangely, no Mute Swans. I think that I am right in saying that this was the first time that we had not seen the Swans in all our visits here. There was a Common Snipe in the cover at the end of the small headland just ouside the hide.
CONTRASTING BARK
Photo: Sue Blair
Walking back to the Centre we were pleased to bump into Rupert who, most kindly, pointed out a Chiffchaff being given a hard time by a Robin. Leon and I both know what a Chiffchaff sounds like now!
The Bittern was not available for viewing when we popped into the 'Headley' hide. Neither of us was very much suprised, the bird probably had more sense than the pair of us and was keeping in the shelter of the reeds!
At the 'Waterlife' area we were able to see (and hear) more birds, we supposed that this was due tothe area being more sheltered. Looking from the hides in this area, out onto the main Lake, was also a little disappointing as the birds were on the far side of the islands! There were only a few gulls to be seen, they were probably feeding on the banks of the river, it being low-tide. There was, however, a large flock of Lapwing and they kept taking off at short intervals which made us scan the skies for raptors. We soon noted a Kestrel and were to see it several times during our visit.
The feeding area was alive with small birds, Tits and Finches of all varieties. The poor Chaffinches that were trying to eat below the feeders were constantly being chased by a Wood Pigeon of all things! Every time that one of the small birds landed the pigeon would charge in its' direction to chase it away! It must have been worn out by the end of the morning!
A walk around the 'Sheltered Lagoon' was quite unproductive apart from a small group of Long Tailed tits who, as usual, seemed to be having a great time carousing in the path-side shrubs and bushes!
The 'Wader Scrape' was still very full and there was not much to see on the water itself. There was avery large flock of Wigeon on the Thames-side bank though, eagerly cropping the grass.
We moved on to the 'Peacock Tower' where we were pleased to meet up with our freinds Terry and Liz. As we were swapping stories of what we had, and hadn't, seen that morning, Terry suddenly pointed to where the gulls usually 'loaf' on the Main Lake. A Curlew had just landed! It moved about for a few moments, every now and then sending out its' cry which is so evocative of wetlands. Then, it was gone! Ithad only stayed a few moments and if Terry had not pointed it out we would all have missed it!
We stayed for some time, scanning the reedbeds for signs of Snipe but were to be unlucky. Nobody had seen the Stonechats and there was still no evidence of Swans having been seen. Rupert turned up to ask if we had all seen the Curlew, he had seen it from the 'WWF' hide. Terry and Liz left for coffee and cakes after we had exchanged the best of Seasons Greetings.
REMINDER OF WARMER DAYS
Photo: Sue Blair
It was still strangely quiet when Leon and I made our way back to the Centre some ten minutes later. On the way back we were treated to some great displays of flying and hovering by the Kestrel that had been in evidence for most of the morning.
Anther bird that had been in evidence for most of the morning was a Green Woodpecker. Poor Terry, when he had seen it earlier, accidentally said “Cuckoo!” and, of course, he was ribbed about it whenever the opportunity arose! Mercilessly!
The ‘office’ was our next stop, only to fortify ourselves for the coming ordeal of late Christmas shopping, of course!
BIRDS SEEN: Coot, Moorhen, Carrion Crow, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Mallard, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Shoveller, Wigeon, Ruddy Duck, Little Grebe, Magpie, Jay, Blackbird, Long Tailed Tit, Common Snipe, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Teal, Heron, Canada Goose, Ring Necked Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, Gadwall, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Robin, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Greenfinch, Wren, Kestrel, Curlew, Starling, Pochard, Herring Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, Blue Tit.
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