SUNSHINE AT LAST.......BUT NO OTTER!

Around 7.30 this morning I received a phone call from Keith asking me if I would like to join him at Willen Lake in Milton Keynes  (he was already there by the way!) to see if we could locate the two Otters that were giving good views yesterday.

So, about an hour later, after a quick rush around to get everything together and a 15 mile journey through the rush hour traffic,  I met up with Keith by the side of the lake as the sun was beginning to make a welcome appearance through the hazy blue sky, sadly though it wasn't having much effect on the cold breeze.  

We made our way around to the hide on the North lake  and soon got good views of  a dozen or so Teal loafing in the sunshine  and a single Snipe searching for food at the water's edge. A large flock of Lapwing were on the distant spit and ten or so Grey Heron were on or around the beginnings of a Heronry in the treetops on the island, one already sitting on a nest and another pair doing what comes naturally for Herons at this time of year!!

After a time, sitting in the cold and drafty hide, we decided to go for a walk around the lake. Keith soon spotted a female Kestrel sitting on a lamp post, after a short time it took to the air, spooked by an oblivious pedestrian walking along the footpath directly underneath!  

  I did, however, manage to get a picture as it took to the air.

After steady stroll in the sunshine we arrived back at the hide once more, unfortunately it wasn't long before all the birds were up in the air spooked by the arrival of a Reed cutting craft crewed by members of the Parks Trust, who proceeded to navigate three quarters of  the way around the island before landing  and getting off  to, presumably, check on the goats that live there!

All was not lost however, as it gave me the opportunity to practice some flight shots...

Lapwing

Teal

Grey Heron

Not a bad few hours out in the sunshine but sadly no 'otter(s)!!

Or to put it another way...the sun shone...it was bloody cold in the wind...the birds were spooked...AND... we didn't see any Otters!       

 I still enjoyed it though!!

A VISIT TO WILSTONE RESERVOIR

Last Friday  (27-01-12) I went on a visit to Wilstone Reservoir, part of the Tring Reservoirs in Hertfordshire.  The sun was shining in a bright blue sky unfortunately there was a strong, bitterly cold, NW wind blowing.

A quick scan across the water revealed all the usual suspects, Mallard, Coot, G C Grebe and Pochard all in varying amounts, accompanied by small groups of Teal and Wigeon and of course the ever present Black-Headed Gulls!

Over the last few weeks there have been two long staying 'celebrities' a Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a Water Pipit. After a short walk, to its regularly reported favourite spot, I soon caught a rather fleeting glimpse of the Water Pipit, just enough time to grab a couple of quick record shots before it was gone!

 

Pied Wagtails were constantly flitting along the shore line accompanied by a single Grey Wagtail and, by the Reed beds in the far corner, a flock of around thirty Linnets.

Grey Wagtail

Linnet (female)

 

I then spotted  the other Wilstone 'celebrity'  the Dark-bellied Brent Goose just as it took off from the water to make a series of close fly by's before landing in its normal grazing field, soon to be joined by Canada and Greylag Geese.

 

Then there was a quick visit by two Red Kites who made a few lazy circles overhead before being 'seen off' by a group of Jackdaws that had until then been noisily minding their own business in the nearby tree tops.

There were also quite a few Redwing and Fieldfare busily looking for food in surrounding meadows and also searching the hedgerows for any remaining berries.

Redwing

Fieldfare (he thinks I can't see him!)

And finally I spent some time watching the Teal and Wigeon 'dabbling' in the shallows.

Wigeon (male)

 The video...