Chiffchaff
The male Blackcap was singing from the ivy-clad tree
The hedgerow just above the canal
Apart from the warblers there were a few male Blackbirds singing and slightly further afield a Song Thrush. There weren't too many Robins around which was strange, but other bird songs appeared to be made up of Dunnocks and Wrens, that were just about everywhere. A Goldcrest put in an appearance along the canal and then disappeared into the undergrowth.
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
The River Ray which runs very close to Moulden Pool appears to have dropped to its normal levels. But on the banks it was quite obvious that when it was in flood, the water levels reached some 2 metres above this. A Moorhen stood motionless on the bank and seemed unconcerned by my presence on the bank.
The bridge over the River Ray
The levels are back to normal but the fence tells another story
A few twists and turns around the Lake
A Moorhen
The lake on the left and the River Ray on the right
On the pool a pair of Great Crested Grebes were asleep and were just drifting about. Other waterfowl included the resident Mute Swans, 3 pairs of Canada Geese and 26 Mallard plus 3 feral birds one of which was nearly as big as the geese.
A pair of Great Crested Grebes
Dozing.......
With one eye on me......
More wildfowl
Along the margins Water Marigolds are in flower and one or two Bumblebees were about despite the cold wind.
Marsh Marigold
In the hedgerows around the pool were Reed Bunting, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch. Away from the pool a Green Woodpecker called as did a Buzzard, but neither were close enough to see.
Bird Species Recorded: 2 Great Crested Grebe, pair of Mute Swan, 3 pairs Canada Goose, 25 Mallard, 1 Buzzard, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, 1 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 1 male Blackcap, 17 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, 8 Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 5 Starling, Chaffinch, 4 Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Reed Bunting
Today's Photos Here