A Blustery Day

Despite the wind it was actually quite a decent day with the sun out and the thermometer reading a pleasant 18°C. As I pulled up the kitchen blind a Red Admiral flew towards me and rested on the bricks to the side of the window. It stayed long enough for me to take its photo before flying off. Also in the garden were a few Drone Flies and several Ladybirds in flight.

Red Admiral soaking up the morning sun

In the afternoon we took Benji for a walk around a very busy Coate Water. The mild weather was certainly getting people out and about. Listening to the birds calling was a bit difficult with the wind rustling the leaves continuously, but I did find several mixed tit flocks made up of predominately Long-tailed Tits with a few Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldcrests and Treecreepers in amongst them. 

The Hornets had moved onto another Ivy bush, but just a little bit further down Broome Manor Lane and in amongst them were a few wasp sp. and Blue Bottles.

One of the few Hornets feeding on the Ivy flowers

In the woods on the far side of Coate (near the cattery) I came across a few bracket fungi on a fallen tree trunk. They were just a dull brown colour underneath but a very reddish colour from above. Another one to identify!

Some Bracket fungi sp.

Quite reddish in colour

By the causeway a Heron was staring into the water and a few Great Crested Grebes were in the reserve. Just before the water cascades into the main lake a huge shoal of silver fish were on the concrete shelf. From above they did look like Roach and there was an awful lot of them.

A Grey Heron on the lookout for his next meal!

The Swan numbers on the water are quite impressive with upwards of 40+, I will endeavour to count them properly one of these days. But with the wind gusting away they looked quite impressive with their feathers blowing about.

Swans as far as the eye can see

Probably a good 40+ at Coate

Birds Recorded: Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, 40+ Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Kingfisher, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. 

Also seen Hornets, wasp sps. and Blue Bottles