Toad - very dark blotches
Toad with striking markings. Almost Leopard like
Toad - subdued markings
Toad - smallish blotches
The bird life was minimal, but it was nice to see that the cob is having a year off chasing juveniles around the lake. Last year he had a real tough time trying to chase off his offspring from 2011. This year though it looks like he persuaded last years brood to move on.
Pen incubating
Cob taking time out at peg 4
Other birds around were a single Chiffchaff which was disappointing. On the feeders and the baited log I set up were Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin and Dunnock. Close by I could hear Marsh Tit, Nuthatch and a Green Woodpecker. Closer to the lake a Long-tailed Tit was foraging.
Dunnock displaying
Robin
Blue Tit
Long-tailed Tit.
Other than the resident Mute Swans there were 7 Mallard and only 1 duck amongst them. A Coot was collecting nesting material and decided to make a dash with it across the water into the reeds.
Coot with nesting material
On the way back to the car park there was a good patch of Water Buttercups and in the fields the Jackdaws were collecting wool from the sheep.
Water Buttercups
Jackdaws
Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Wren, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Robin, Blackbird, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Bullfinch. 26 Species