1st FEBRUARY 2007.
LEONS’ FIRST REPORT.
I had a day off; Reg had to work, so off I went. It was only the second time that I had been birding on my own, no supervision, no medication and a promise that I would be back for teatime and not abscond again! Joke!!
Well, I got to the wetlands later than I wanted, 10:20, but it was a fair day, overcast mostly, but dry and calm. I took our usual route, Observatory upstairs and get sorted out, downstairs were the post-natal mothers trying to work off what they had added by doing pelvic thrusts which got them in the position in the first place! Anyway, I digress, birds, that’s it!
The Main Lake was fairly full with the usual suspects, but I was pleased to see Mute Swans as, for the last 4 – 6 weekends we had not seen any. I left the Observatory and headed towards the ‘Wildside’, stopping by the log cabin to see or hear the Goldcrest in the conifers there, but, no joy.
LEONS’ FIRST REPORT.
I had a day off; Reg had to work, so off I went. It was only the second time that I had been birding on my own, no supervision, no medication and a promise that I would be back for teatime and not abscond again! Joke!!
Well, I got to the wetlands later than I wanted, 10:20, but it was a fair day, overcast mostly, but dry and calm. I took our usual route, Observatory upstairs and get sorted out, downstairs were the post-natal mothers trying to work off what they had added by doing pelvic thrusts which got them in the position in the first place! Anyway, I digress, birds, that’s it!
The Main Lake was fairly full with the usual suspects, but I was pleased to see Mute Swans as, for the last 4 – 6 weekends we had not seen any. I left the Observatory and headed towards the ‘Wildside’, stopping by the log cabin to see or hear the Goldcrest in the conifers there, but, no joy.
FIRST SWAN FOR WEEKS!Photo: Leon Rusk
GOLDCREST COUNTRY!
I then went to the ‘Headley’ hide to see if the Bittern had been seen. There were a couple of people with ‘scopes but the Bittern wasn’t showing at he time and, later, I was to learn said bird had moved along to near to his/her old stomping ground of last winter by the WWF hide.
From there I went on to the ‘Wildside’ hide where there was not one but two Snipes on the small peninsular just outside of the hide, on the left, as you look across the Grazing Marsh. After a while all the birds were up! Raptor! Nah, also up was a cherry-picker crew repairing the Peacock Tower roof.
I moved back towards the Centre, again stopping for Goldcrests. Nothing. Never mind.
From there I went on to the ‘Wildside’ hide where there was not one but two Snipes on the small peninsular just outside of the hide, on the left, as you look across the Grazing Marsh. After a while all the birds were up! Raptor! Nah, also up was a cherry-picker crew repairing the Peacock Tower roof.
I moved back towards the Centre, again stopping for Goldcrests. Nothing. Never mind.
GOLDCREST COUNTRY!Photo: Sue Blair
WORK ON THE TOWER
On to the ‘Waterlife’, lovely and quiet, at the bird feeder station a group of people were watching intently (which they were kind enough to show me was) a Sparrowhawk in the low branches. So no small birds there then!
I took a slow stroll around the Sheltered Lagoon and into the Wader Scrape hide. Zilch, work in progress on the Peacock Tower so I decided to make my way towards the Centre and exit, Getting there I thought I would have one more look out on the Main Lake from the Observatory. I could count more ‘planes than birds! Not only the work on the Peacock Tower but also two WWT workers out on the small islands from a boat moored nearby. I give up! I bypass ‘the office’ and go to my sisters’.
I took a slow stroll around the Sheltered Lagoon and into the Wader Scrape hide. Zilch, work in progress on the Peacock Tower so I decided to make my way towards the Centre and exit, Getting there I thought I would have one more look out on the Main Lake from the Observatory. I could count more ‘planes than birds! Not only the work on the Peacock Tower but also two WWT workers out on the small islands from a boat moored nearby. I give up! I bypass ‘the office’ and go to my sisters’.
WORK ON THE TOWERPhoto: Leon Rusk
BIRDS SEEN: Great Tit, Moorhen, Coot, Starling, Blackbird, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Shoveller, Feral Pigeon, Heron, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Teal, Wigeon, Wood Pigeon, Long Tailed Tit, Wren, Greenfinch, Little Grebe, Ring Necked Parakeet, Common Snipe, Gadwall, Greylag Goose, Stock Dove, Magpie, Sparrowhawk, Goldfinch, Black Headed Gull, Coal Tit.
1 comment:
WELL DONE MY SON, AND ALL ON YOUR OWN TOO.
Post a Comment