Approaching the Centre. Photo: Leon Rusk.
Monday, February 27, 2006
VOLE HAS HEART ATTACK
A bitterly cold North wind with sporadic showers of sleet had Leon and I wrapped up extra warm. The chill seemed to get in the smallest of gaps in our clothing. Even well wrapped we had to stand in the lee of the bus shelter to avoid the worst of the icy blasts.
As usual we were the first ones at the Centre and there appeared to be very few others who were to brave the weather. We only had a few minutes to wait before we were allowed in.
There did not seem to be many birds about, perhaps they had more sense than us! At the ‘Wildside’ hide there were very few water birds to be seen and even the feeding station only had a few Wood Pigeons scrabbling about under it looking for odd scraps.
We did see a strange Goose in company with one of the Canada geese. It looked like a Canada but had a full white face, Pinky-Orange beak and legs. After some discussion we thought that it was probably a Canada/Graylag hybrid. (This was confirmed later, at the Centre).
Making our way back to the ‘Hedley’ hide we noticed just how much work the staff had been doing as there were many reed beds that had been cut back and lots of wooden structures had been repaired or constructed. By the time that we reached the hide the weather had taken a turn for the better, the sun was now showing occasionally and it had warmed up a little. It was still very nippy if you were not sheltered from the wind though. Nothing much to see here again although there was a large flock of Lapwing on one of the islands and there were a few Cormorants in the small rafts.
On the way back to the Restaurant we had the surprise of our lives. We usually walk along with one eye on the edge of the reed beds, just in case we saw a Water Vole. Well today we were just walking through the ‘Floodplain’ area and there was one just sat minding its’ own business! Leon saw it first. Anybody else would have nudged me and indicated with a nod of the head where the tiny creature was. Not Leon. In his excitement he screeched at the top of his voice:” VOLE!!!!!!!! IT’S A ‘KIN VOLE!!! REG!!! VOLE!!!!!!!! The Vole didn’t hang about. It was there one second, gone the next. For one moment I very nearly joined it! When my nerves settled a bit I approached the reeds into which it had vanished. It was still there, grasping at a reed stem and clutching its’ little chest. I knew how it felt. When it saw me looking down at it, it scampered off. The incident reminded me of an old Swahili rhyme:
As the poor wee Vole made a scamper for the grass,
Leon saw its’ head and Reg saw its’ other end!
(For some reason it doesn’t rhyme in the translation!)
Of course, there was no time for photographs so we will just have to wait for another time. Perhaps when one of them is using one of the new feeding/ toilet station rafts. I will quite probably take my pictures before letting the one-man air raid siren know that there is one to be seen!
It had been some time since we had a full breakfast at the Restaurant but today was the ideal time to get back into the habit! The food, as usual, was excellent and I still think it represents real value. By this time the weather had improved quite dramatically and there were a good few people about, many with youngsters in attendance.
After breakfast we walked along to the feeding station near the ‘Sheltered Lagoon’. Again, there were very few birds about, possibly because there were three Ring Necked Parakeets hogging the feeders. Along with two Wood Pigeons there was not much room for the littl’uns.
We walked around the Lagoon and were quite shocked to see the amount of evidence of predation along the pathway. There appeared to be what was left of a Swans wing, lots of big white feathers and very long (clean) bones. Further along there was what we took to be the remains of a Crow of some sort and just before reaching the hide at the end of the path there was quite a scattering of good-sized fish scales, about 1-2 cms across. I saved some of the scales that we thought might be from a small to medium sized Carp. I hope to ask one of my fisherman friends for their ideas. All this evidence was quite easy to see, just a metre or so from the edge of the path.
Moving on to the ‘Peacock Tower’ we were again a little disappointed with the number of different species on show. There was a large flock of Black-Headed Gulls in the Wader Scrape illustrating the many different stages of patterning on the head of these birds.
We had hoped to see the Rock Pipit and the Kingfisher that had been seen on several occasions around this part of the site but it was not to be.
We mooched off to the Red Lion to discuss the events of the day stopping off at the WWT shop on the way. Leon had to buy a replacement birdfeeder as his had been destroyed in the very high winds which we have had over the last couple of weeks. He also stocked up with numerous seeds and fat/seed cakes.
At the pub we certainly had lots to talk about. Not only the Vole and the signs of predation but also the first signs of Spring that we had seen. There were Crocus flowers to see and the Daffodils were well on their way. What were good to see though were the little tips of the new reeds starting to poke through the mud. Many areas had a lovely green ‘sheen’ to them. It will not be long now until they are full grown although only a few centimetres high at the moment.We also noticed that the birds seem to be starting to pair off. There were several instances of quite earnest courtship display and a couple of Moorhen had started to pile up a nest from some of the reeds that had been felled near the ‘Wildside’ hide.
BIRDS SEEN: Graylag Goose, Blackbird, Green Woodpecker, Great tit, Blue tit, Coal Tit, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Moorhen, Heron, Mallard, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Pochard, Ruddy Duck, Lapwing, Carrion Crows, Magpie, Cormorant, Starling, Shoveller, Common Snipe, Greenfinch, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Ring-Necked Parakeet, Mute Swan, Dunnock, Siskin, Chaffinch, Wren, Robin, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe.
As usual we were the first ones at the Centre and there appeared to be very few others who were to brave the weather. We only had a few minutes to wait before we were allowed in.
There did not seem to be many birds about, perhaps they had more sense than us! At the ‘Wildside’ hide there were very few water birds to be seen and even the feeding station only had a few Wood Pigeons scrabbling about under it looking for odd scraps.
We did see a strange Goose in company with one of the Canada geese. It looked like a Canada but had a full white face, Pinky-Orange beak and legs. After some discussion we thought that it was probably a Canada/Graylag hybrid. (This was confirmed later, at the Centre).
Making our way back to the ‘Hedley’ hide we noticed just how much work the staff had been doing as there were many reed beds that had been cut back and lots of wooden structures had been repaired or constructed. By the time that we reached the hide the weather had taken a turn for the better, the sun was now showing occasionally and it had warmed up a little. It was still very nippy if you were not sheltered from the wind though. Nothing much to see here again although there was a large flock of Lapwing on one of the islands and there were a few Cormorants in the small rafts.
On the way back to the Restaurant we had the surprise of our lives. We usually walk along with one eye on the edge of the reed beds, just in case we saw a Water Vole. Well today we were just walking through the ‘Floodplain’ area and there was one just sat minding its’ own business! Leon saw it first. Anybody else would have nudged me and indicated with a nod of the head where the tiny creature was. Not Leon. In his excitement he screeched at the top of his voice:” VOLE!!!!!!!! IT’S A ‘KIN VOLE!!! REG!!! VOLE!!!!!!!! The Vole didn’t hang about. It was there one second, gone the next. For one moment I very nearly joined it! When my nerves settled a bit I approached the reeds into which it had vanished. It was still there, grasping at a reed stem and clutching its’ little chest. I knew how it felt. When it saw me looking down at it, it scampered off. The incident reminded me of an old Swahili rhyme:
As the poor wee Vole made a scamper for the grass,
Leon saw its’ head and Reg saw its’ other end!
(For some reason it doesn’t rhyme in the translation!)
Of course, there was no time for photographs so we will just have to wait for another time. Perhaps when one of them is using one of the new feeding/ toilet station rafts. I will quite probably take my pictures before letting the one-man air raid siren know that there is one to be seen!
It had been some time since we had a full breakfast at the Restaurant but today was the ideal time to get back into the habit! The food, as usual, was excellent and I still think it represents real value. By this time the weather had improved quite dramatically and there were a good few people about, many with youngsters in attendance.
After breakfast we walked along to the feeding station near the ‘Sheltered Lagoon’. Again, there were very few birds about, possibly because there were three Ring Necked Parakeets hogging the feeders. Along with two Wood Pigeons there was not much room for the littl’uns.
We walked around the Lagoon and were quite shocked to see the amount of evidence of predation along the pathway. There appeared to be what was left of a Swans wing, lots of big white feathers and very long (clean) bones. Further along there was what we took to be the remains of a Crow of some sort and just before reaching the hide at the end of the path there was quite a scattering of good-sized fish scales, about 1-2 cms across. I saved some of the scales that we thought might be from a small to medium sized Carp. I hope to ask one of my fisherman friends for their ideas. All this evidence was quite easy to see, just a metre or so from the edge of the path.
Moving on to the ‘Peacock Tower’ we were again a little disappointed with the number of different species on show. There was a large flock of Black-Headed Gulls in the Wader Scrape illustrating the many different stages of patterning on the head of these birds.
We had hoped to see the Rock Pipit and the Kingfisher that had been seen on several occasions around this part of the site but it was not to be.
We mooched off to the Red Lion to discuss the events of the day stopping off at the WWT shop on the way. Leon had to buy a replacement birdfeeder as his had been destroyed in the very high winds which we have had over the last couple of weeks. He also stocked up with numerous seeds and fat/seed cakes.
At the pub we certainly had lots to talk about. Not only the Vole and the signs of predation but also the first signs of Spring that we had seen. There were Crocus flowers to see and the Daffodils were well on their way. What were good to see though were the little tips of the new reeds starting to poke through the mud. Many areas had a lovely green ‘sheen’ to them. It will not be long now until they are full grown although only a few centimetres high at the moment.We also noticed that the birds seem to be starting to pair off. There were several instances of quite earnest courtship display and a couple of Moorhen had started to pile up a nest from some of the reeds that had been felled near the ‘Wildside’ hide.
BIRDS SEEN: Graylag Goose, Blackbird, Green Woodpecker, Great tit, Blue tit, Coal Tit, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Moorhen, Heron, Mallard, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Pochard, Ruddy Duck, Lapwing, Carrion Crows, Magpie, Cormorant, Starling, Shoveller, Common Snipe, Greenfinch, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Ring-Necked Parakeet, Mute Swan, Dunnock, Siskin, Chaffinch, Wren, Robin, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
5th February 2006. NEW BINOCULARS.
A sunny day and not as cold as it has been recently. In fact, as the day progressed it became quite pleasant. The clement weather had brought out quite a healthy sized crowd.
Leon was eager to try out his new binoculars, so was I, as I seem to have misplaced my own pair. They turned out to be an excellent buy, very easy to use and great viewing quality.
We started, as usual, by heading off towards the ‘Wildside’ hide, stopping to see if Disco Duck was about. Leon wasted no time in using his new binoculars once we had reached the hide. There were not too many birds about at this end of the main lake, they seem to have congregated at the very far end, furthest away from us. The feeder station at one end of the hide had attracted a large number of Chaffinch, Tits and a Dunnock.
The ‘Hedley’ hide was our next port of call. Again, there was not much ‘action’ immediately around the hide itself until a couple of Cettis’ Warblers turned up. They were difficult to identify at first as they were between us and the sun, presenting themselves as silhouettes. They moved nicely for us and we soon had a lovely view of them. This was a first for both Leon and myself.
A hot drink was next on the agenda so we made our way back to the restaurant, which was doing a roaring trade. People were sat outside enjoying their drinks or breakfasts in the, by now, quite warm sunshine.
Once finished, we moved on to the ‘WWT’ hide. From here we had a marvellous view of lots of water birds. We could now see why there appeared to be so few birds earlier in the day. Although there was virtually no wind, nearly all the birds were on the leeward side of the small islands. This, of course, had rendered them invisible from our earlier viewing points.
Moving to the main feeding area near ‘The Lagoon’ we were rewarded with sight of lots of finches and tits. There was a Ring-Necked Parakeet feeding; it had obviously worked out how to steal the food from one of the feeders. Best of all though was the sight of both Common and Mealy Redpolls, again firsts for the pair of us! The ‘Lagoon’ itself was fairly quiet, perhaps, as before, the birds were on the leeward side of the island.
We moved to the ‘Peacock Tower’. Here we were able to see the Bittern once again as well as the Water Rail. There were also quite a few common Snipe about. Another first for both of us was seeing a Bar Tailed Godwit on the far side of the Wader Scrape. We spent some time watching a Heron that was very intent on its’ hunting, I was amazed at the speed of its’ strike when going for some small titbit.
We made a quick visit to the ‘Dulverton’ hide on the way back to the Centre, not staying long as there was some chap in there that couldn’t stop sneezing. “Avian ‘flu” said Dr Leon with a knowing nod!
Leaving the centre we made our way to the ‘Red Lion’. We couldn’t stay long as Leon had friends to visit. We just had a couple and talked about the new birds that we had seen.
BIRDS SEEN: Wigeon, Teal, Robin, Mallard, Bewick and Mute Swans, Water Rail, Shoveller, Bittern, Siskin, Coot, Moorhen, Gadwall, Pochard, Mistle Thrush, Lapwing, Pochard, Cormorant, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Magpie, Blue, Coal and Great Tits, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Bar Tailed Godwit, Common Redpoll, Mealy Redpoll, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Canada Goose, Cettis’ Warbler, Tufted Duck, Common Snipe, Blackbird.
Leon was eager to try out his new binoculars, so was I, as I seem to have misplaced my own pair. They turned out to be an excellent buy, very easy to use and great viewing quality.
We started, as usual, by heading off towards the ‘Wildside’ hide, stopping to see if Disco Duck was about. Leon wasted no time in using his new binoculars once we had reached the hide. There were not too many birds about at this end of the main lake, they seem to have congregated at the very far end, furthest away from us. The feeder station at one end of the hide had attracted a large number of Chaffinch, Tits and a Dunnock.
The ‘Hedley’ hide was our next port of call. Again, there was not much ‘action’ immediately around the hide itself until a couple of Cettis’ Warblers turned up. They were difficult to identify at first as they were between us and the sun, presenting themselves as silhouettes. They moved nicely for us and we soon had a lovely view of them. This was a first for both Leon and myself.
A hot drink was next on the agenda so we made our way back to the restaurant, which was doing a roaring trade. People were sat outside enjoying their drinks or breakfasts in the, by now, quite warm sunshine.
Once finished, we moved on to the ‘WWT’ hide. From here we had a marvellous view of lots of water birds. We could now see why there appeared to be so few birds earlier in the day. Although there was virtually no wind, nearly all the birds were on the leeward side of the small islands. This, of course, had rendered them invisible from our earlier viewing points.
Moving to the main feeding area near ‘The Lagoon’ we were rewarded with sight of lots of finches and tits. There was a Ring-Necked Parakeet feeding; it had obviously worked out how to steal the food from one of the feeders. Best of all though was the sight of both Common and Mealy Redpolls, again firsts for the pair of us! The ‘Lagoon’ itself was fairly quiet, perhaps, as before, the birds were on the leeward side of the island.
We moved to the ‘Peacock Tower’. Here we were able to see the Bittern once again as well as the Water Rail. There were also quite a few common Snipe about. Another first for both of us was seeing a Bar Tailed Godwit on the far side of the Wader Scrape. We spent some time watching a Heron that was very intent on its’ hunting, I was amazed at the speed of its’ strike when going for some small titbit.
We made a quick visit to the ‘Dulverton’ hide on the way back to the Centre, not staying long as there was some chap in there that couldn’t stop sneezing. “Avian ‘flu” said Dr Leon with a knowing nod!
Leaving the centre we made our way to the ‘Red Lion’. We couldn’t stay long as Leon had friends to visit. We just had a couple and talked about the new birds that we had seen.
BIRDS SEEN: Wigeon, Teal, Robin, Mallard, Bewick and Mute Swans, Water Rail, Shoveller, Bittern, Siskin, Coot, Moorhen, Gadwall, Pochard, Mistle Thrush, Lapwing, Pochard, Cormorant, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Magpie, Blue, Coal and Great Tits, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Bar Tailed Godwit, Common Redpoll, Mealy Redpoll, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Canada Goose, Cettis’ Warbler, Tufted Duck, Common Snipe, Blackbird.
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