Mud Glorious Mud

With an hour and a bit to spare this afternoon, Dawn and I decided to have a walk around the Cotswold Water Park. We parked by Kent End Farm (CWP Pit 200) and then we followed the trail that took us past CWP Pit 74a and Pit 81, across the road and then past Pit 82 and Pit 68d down to the Waterhay Car Park. Just before the car park we took the path north-west and between Pit 83 and Pit 82. From here it was across the road towards Kentend Farm and through to Pit 66 and Pit 76 before running down back to the east end of Kent End Farm (CWP Pit 200) where the car was parked.

Start Point at top of map and then a clockwise route. (Map courtesy of Google Earth)

There was mud everywhere and still a bit of flooding in places, but all passable.

The main highlight was obviously the Great Northern Diver, which was elusive at first, before it took off to show itself before coming to land at the north-east end of the pit.

Other highlights were a Peacock Butterfly and then a Painted Lady. Well the afternoon temperature did reach 13.4°C and it has certainly been a topsy turvy winter! Other highlights were my first Wigeon, Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, Jay and Lesser Redpoll for the year.

Here are a few images from our walk.

Looking northwest along the flooded Thames path.

Further on and CWP Pit 82 is to the right up ahead.

And just the one shot of the Great Northern Diver as it flew into the northwest bay of CWP Pit 82. By the time we walked the 200 metres to get there, he had managed to swim all the way back to the north-east corner.

En route to CWP Pit 82 this male Reed Bunting...........

...........whilst in the hedgerow this Redwing stayed long enough for a quick photo before he flew off to join his mates and a few Fieldfare.

On the fence of CWP Pit 83 was this Lesser Redpoll, which I certainly wasn't expecting. Must have been my lucky day as he posed for one photograph.

Just beyond pits 82 and 83 you can bisect the fields to get to Ashton Keynes. This is looking back towards the pits.

Whilst this is looking towards Ashton Keynes to the northwest.

90+ Lapwing over Kent End Farm Pit 200

Spot the Wigeon in amongst the Pochard and Tufted Duck (its the one on the far left)

More Pochard and Tufted Duck, plus a few Coot

Birds Recorded: Great Northern Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Mallard, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Pochard, 2 Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, 90+ Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, 1 Jay, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.

Also : Peacock Butterfly and Painted Lady