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.
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.