The setting Sun at Stanton
Toms 3lb Bream on Halibut pellet
The weather for a change was really good and it wasn't long before a pair of Swallows came down to the water to feed. Unfortunately it was short-lived as a Sparrowhawk put them off as it circled high above. Its amazing how its presence can cause a real commotion with the resident woodland birds. One minute they were all singing away and then then next minute it was a collection of warning calls ringing out in the wood and lakeside.
On the water the cob was keeping guard as the pen sat on her nest and a pair of Tufted Duck were a pleasant surprise. Whether they breed will remain to be seen.
The Cob keeping guard
Tufted Duck (drake) and a Coot left
There were quite a few Mallard on the water with one or two feral birds and a few Coot were collecting nesting material. A pair of Stock Doves landed in the tall trees behind us and began cooing. Woodpigeons and Stock Doves may look similar other than the fact that adult Woodpigeons have a white patch on each side of their neck, but they definitely sound different when they are cooing. The Stock Dove appears more harsh on the second coo.
A pair of Mallard
There is a always a Robin around when you are fishing. The ever opportunist looking for a free snack, unfortunately carp pellets was not something it was too crazy about.
The ubiquitous Robin
Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, and Reed Bunting.