Sunny Lagoon

Unfortunately my planned walk around Coate Water and an opportunity to tick off Treecreeper on my year list was scuppered, when I had to stay at work a bit longer than I had planned.  Still the walk around Liden Lagoon was still enjoyable, as once again there was some afternoon sun. The first thing I noticed when I parked up, was that the Alders next to the car park all have catkins and the huge flock of Goldfinches and Siskins which had been feeding on last years cones, were gone. In fact I only came across one Siskin on the walk around the Lagoon.  Other changes since I was here last, on the 5th February, was the slight increase of Canada Geese from 20 to 27 and that there are only the two resident Mute Swans. There was no sign of last year’s 3 juveniles, so I’m presuming the cob drove them off.

Last visit I saw 4 drake Pochard and today there were 5, however going the other way, there are only 3 drake Tufted Duck now from the 12 recorded on the 5th.

Drake Pochard

  The Moorhens were out in force with lots of quarreling  The ones I did count totaled 17, but I wouldn't doubt that there were several more lurking around the islands.  I only managed 5 Coots and yet again a solitary Great Crested Grebe.  Surely there must be another one on the Lagoon!!  Overhead a Grey Heron flew east and over the busy A419.

The busy A419 to the east of Liden Lagoon

Similar to Lawns yesterday, the number of Woodpigeons is quite high running into the 20’s and I did manage to catch a quick glimpse of a Collared Dove.  I’m hoping the Collared Doves are sitting on their nests now, as in my back garden I only have one bird visiting.  Either he or she has lost his mate to the talons of a Sparrowhawk or hopefully the female is on her nest.

Other birds of note were several large Gulls, notably two pristine adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two beautifully marked Herring Gulls and juveniles of different ages.  A few more Black-headed Gulls are now sporting black heads, which is their summer plumage and as I reached the opposite end of the lagoon a Common Gull was just leaving.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

A 1st Winter (left) and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull

Two adult Herring Gulls

Juvenile Black-headed Gull

Below the railings on the west bank a Grey Wagtail, was busy snapping up flies by the overflow pipe.

Grey Wagtail

Close to the car park on the return leg a large Bumblebee shot pass me and though it was travelling at speed the White tail was quite distinct. (White-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus lucorum)

Other birds recorded were, Mallard, Starling, Magpies, Carrion Crow, Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow (Total of 30 Species Recorded).

Local Pools

Lawns

At last a bit of sun, all week it’s been murky, cold and windy. So for a brief spell it was most welcome.  A walk around Lawn Pools with the camera saw me total 25 species, including a Buzzard that somehow manoeuvred itself through the dense trees with several gulls in pursuit. Needless to say once into the woods the gulls gave up and flew off above tree top level. Along the banks the Snowdrops were in flower.

Snowdrops

On the bottom pool there were roughly 50 Mallard mostly drakes with about 14 ducks. Also on the water there were 19 Black-headed Gulls with one or two in summer plumage. A pair of Moorhens scurried into the water as I approached and there were at least 3 Coot.  Along the north bank a Wren was busy feeding in amongst the Rhododendrons and Great, Blue and Coal Tits were just about everywhere, with several Great Tits competing for a female.

Jenny Wren

There was no sign of the Heron today and as I made my way up the path towards the top Pool, there was characteristic twittering of Siskins and Goldfinches in the Alders above me.

Looking down at the Lower Pool from the Top Pool

On the top Pool itself there were 10 Mallard (6 drakes and 4 ducks), the resident Mute Swans, a pair of Moorhens and Coot with an injured leg. He was quite tame, coming up close to me before the Swans had other ideas and moved it on.

Resident Mute Swans

Coot with injured leg, being moved on.

A pair of Moorhens on the Top Pool

In the trees overhanging the Pool a number of Black-headed Gulls sat and squabbled before they spotted the Buzzard as it flew low over the water.

Black-headed Gull looking very Tern-like

Also about were Lesser Black-backed Gulls & Herring Gulls overhead, dozens of Woodpigeons, a fly-by Feral Pigeon, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpies, Carrion Crow, Jackdaws, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tits and a male Chaffinch singing.

Just one of many Woodpigeons at Lawns today

Liden Lagoon

Not realising the time my visit to Liden Lagoon was very brief. I just managed to capture a pair of Long-tailed Tits drying off, after having been bathing in the margins and that was about it. A quick look across the water revealed a pair Pochards and a lot of screaming gulls, being fed at the far end of the lagoon.

A very bedraggled Long-tailed Tit after its bath.

Spring is in the air!!

The first signs of Spring are upon us; though it's hard to believe. The bitter cold wind from the east is absolutely biting and it's so cold, that every time the snow falls its coming down as a fine dust.

It's not put the birds off and the Collared Doves are still coming to the garden and on one occasion brought a small twig with them. Perhaps it was for a nest, but whatever it was for they left on the bird table. In Thetford a pair started nesting on a telegraph pole on 19th January - Early Nest, so it wouldn't surprise me if they start nesting locally and very soon. They are great characters, but I'm still not sure which is the male or female. A difficult species to sex.

Collared Doves

Male or Female

Male or Female

The Blue Tits and Great Tits are very active, with 3 Blue Tits chasing each other around the front of the house. They seem very interested in the extension to the neighbours house.  I wonder if the neighbours will let me put a nest box up on their wall?

Locally the Great Crested Grebes are courting with their familiar weed dance and a little further afield a friend of mine informs me that the resident Mute Swans have been seen mating.

On the BTO Website the Cuckoos are just starting their Spring migration north and here's a link to their website to follow their routes. Cuckoos

Spring is nearly here....................

Nythe Pool Revisited

Around lunchtime I spotted a Little Egret heading towards the Pool from the direction of Coleview.  It was too good an opportunity to give it a miss and with the weather being so nice I decided to have a wander down to the Pool. I wasn't disappointed as there perched in one of the tall trees around the waters edge was the Little Egret.

Little Egret

A dog walker soon had it flying and then it landed on the banks of the pool, before another walker put it up again.  This time it headed back in the direction of Coleview.  I'm sure it’s getting used to this.

Back to Coleview!

There were two pairs of Mallard on the water, with one pair actively bathing. At times they were totally immersed and would pop up a few feet from where they had gone under.  At times the water was just a boiling froth.

Under we go

Just a froth

Other birds seen were a single Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, a pair of Collared Doves, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Starling, 9 Magpie, Carrion Crow, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and a House Sparrow.

Woodpigeon

A pair of Collared Doves

Andy's Lake

Today I headed off to South Cerney to fish the annual Pike Competition at Andy's Lake.

I arrived at 8:15am in swirling fog which lasted right up until 10:30am. I drew peg 28, which was just 3 pegs down from the Car Park, so at least I had a short walk for a change. Arriving at my peg I could just about make out a Tufted Duck and a few Coot on the water in front of me; the fog was dense.

The view from my peg

The sun trying to burst through.

In the distance I could hear a few Canada Geese and every now and then a Great Crested Grebe calling.  Overhead a few Siskin were flying about and it made me wonder how birds manage to fly in "pea soupers".

Eventually it lifted and as it did so a pair of Mute Swans landed right in front of me.  It was only an hour later that I discovered they were interlopers. The resident pair had been hiding in the fog and were in no mood to allow a another pair on their stretch of water. After a few brief laps up and down the lake, the interlopers soon left, with the resident cob showing off in defiance.

The cob and his triumphant display having seen off the interlopers

Peace and tranquility resumed

With so many pits in the Cotswold Water Park, it's not surprising to see so many birds overhead passing from one water to the next. To the east of Andy's Lake, is Pit 12 and quite a few gulls had been roosting there.  One bird that caught my eye was Black-headed Gull with a broken leg and a few primaries missing.

Black-headed Gull with broken leg

In amongst the Black-headed Gulls were Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a pair of Common Gulls.

The view from my peg with the fog gone.

As the sun came up, so more and more birds became evident.  Behind me in the brambles Great Tits, Blue Tits and Dunnocks were foraging, whilst in the tall trees behind them Carrion Crows surveyed their surrounds.  Next to me an Alder became the focal point for some Long-tailed Tits, Siskins, Goldfinches and a pair of Redpolls. I tried to get a decent photo of the Redpolls but a record shot of their underparts was all I could get.  Having said that I must confess I hadn't realised how white they are from below.

Carrion Crow

Dunnock having a stretch

 Long-tailed Tit having a rub

The underside of a Redpoll

On the water a pair of Great Crested Grebes were courting with both birds stretching up from the water and shaking their heads. Another pair were later seen, much to the annoyance of the male courting at the east end of the lake.

Courting Great Crested Grebes

And finally it wouldn't be right not to mention every angler’s companion on the riverbank, the Robin. From the moment I arrived to when I packed up 7 hours later he and his mate were within a few feet of me throughout the day. Needless to say, tit-bits were thrown their way, whenever they came close.

The humble Robin

And his mate

Considering I was sat in one place for nearly 7 hours I reckon my final tally of 38 birds wasn't too bad. Here's the final tally:

Great Crested Grebe 2 pairs, Cormorant several overhead, Mute Swan 2 resident +2, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck 1 pair, Goosander 2 flew east, Coot 12, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull 2, Feral Pigeon 1, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Skylark 1 heading east, Starling 60+ headed south, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Wren, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Robin 5, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Redpoll 2 and Reed Bunting. Total 38

PS. In case you were wondering how I got on fishing. I blanked, but then did it really matter..............

Mud glorious mud, nothing quite.............

I didn't expect quite so much mud, but there was heaps of it on our walk around the Cotswold Water Park this afternoon. Dawn and I started off at the Gateway Centre and walked one of the six circular walks the Cotswold Water Park have put together.  The one we chose today was Walk no.1 which takes you on a 3 mile trek around pits 6, 9, 71, 67, 10, 11, Churn Pool and back around pit 6 again before you return to the Gateway Centre.

Walk 1 of the 6 Circular Walks

As we left the Gateway Centre there was a pair of Mute Swans in the Thames and Severn Canal which due to the recent heavy rainfall, was running quite strongly with the extra flood water. This was quite noticeable at the lock gates by the Canal Gatehouse as it poured over the Lock Gates.

Canal Gatehouse lock gates

Beyond the Gatehouse we walked through Cerney Wick and it was quite evident that there had been a fair bit of rain here as well.  The fields, River Thames and side streams were saturated in rain water, making our walk quite difficult along the muddy paths. A Chiffchaff certainly lifted our spirits as we waded through the mud.

Cerney Wick's muddy paths

The pathway improved slightly as we passed Pit 9 and a short stop revealed a fair number of water fowl. There were large numbers of Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and several Goldeneye present. Further out there were Canada Geese, Cormorant and one or two Great Crested Grebe.

Wigeon in flight

Two drake Goldeneye

From Pit 9 we headed down past Pit 71 towards the old railway track. Last year the fields on the right used to have horses in, but it appears the farmer has put a few sheep in here instead. I guess its bad luck on the sheep as the field they are now in is absolutely saturated. You have to feel for them as they are in a right state wading through wet mud and water. Not a good move I think from the farmer. Having said that several hundred Back-headed Gulls thought differently and so did 60+ Pied Wagtails that found the conditions to their liking.

How many Pied Wagtails can you count in this photo? Answer at the bottom of  today's blog...

A lone sheep braving the muddy fields

From the old Railway track we headed back towards Pit 8 and yet again, through more quagmire.  Dawn and I have walked the Cotswold Water Park many times but today was definitely the worst it's ever been. 

More mud and water

Having managed to make our way towards Pit 8 there was once again a familiar sight.  Looking towards Pit 67 there was a Kestrel hovering.  Nothing unusual  I know, but it's been at least 7 months since we have walked this particular route and the same or different Kestrel is hovering over the same area of land it did last time we passed this way.

Kestrel

Its always nice to get a few new species on my 2013 Bird List and must admit I wasn't expecting to get Red-crested Pochard.  I know there are quite a few at Neigh Bridge but I wasn't expecting to see a pair on Pit 9. The photo isn't the best as they were quite a way out, but never-the-less I was well pleased to get a photo of them.

Red-crested Pochard

From Pit 9 on our right, we passed Pits 11, Churn Pool Trout Fishery on our left and then  walked over the River Thames towards Pit 6. As we did so there was a large party of Redwing in the adjacent Field, which took off as soon as we walked along the path.

Reed Bunting (Female)

Along the bank of Pit 6 towards the Gateway Centre we came across a female Reed Bunting in the Hedgerow. I just managed a photograph before she flew off.

All in all this was a really good walk and despite the mud & excess water we managed a total of 41 bird species, which considering the conditions was pretty good.

Here is the list of species recorded between 1:50pm to 3:25pm: Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Red-crested Pochard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Wren, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Greenfinch and Reed Bunting. Total 41

Oh and the number of Wagtails in the photo was 6.

Nightingale Wood

A quick walk around Nightingale Wood this afternoon, turned out to be quite disappointing. Only 14 species of birds were recorded and 3 Roe Deer in Brook Meadow.

Roe Deer

One of three Roe Deer in Brook Meadow

Of all the birds seen the only highlight was 1000+ Starlings heading west at about 3:10pm.  The other species noted were Great Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Pheasant, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rook, Dunnock and Robin.