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a hint of blue coming my way
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I thought my visits to the Reserve were over for January but then the weather forecast made Tuesday sound like my best opportunity of the week. When the sun came out I set off from home, not arriving until about 10.30. By the time I was togged up in wellies and woolly hat the sun had vanished, of course, but there were odd sunny intervals from time to time. There was a strong, westerly wind making it feel colder than the thermometer's 9 degrees so my expectations were not too high. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my morning and took a few photos. Here is what I recorded:Birds:
SC209694 ( bird hide) 4 x Mallard ( 2 pairs) 2 x Teal which saw me coming and flew away before I could reach the hide; Moorhen; 6 x Goldfinch; Blue Tit; Woodpigeon x 2; male Chaffinch. Water Rail heard 3 times.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) 2 x Great Tit; Chaffinch heard not seen; Heron flying over; Robin;
SC209695 Blue Tit; Chaffinch heard not seen; 10 x Goldfinch flying over;
SC209693 Woodpigeon flying over; Redwing.
SC208694 9 x Greenfinch flying over ( with thanks to David Kelly for spotting/identifying them); Blackbird; male Chaffinch.
SC210694 Robin heard; 2 x Jackdaws on chimney pots of Old School House next door.
Other:
SC208694 a few new Wood Blewits.
SC208694 and SC209694 Hawthorns in leaf
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one of two female Mallards
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and one of two Drakes
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all four Mallards together
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the Moorhen made a very brief appearance
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one of several Goldfinches
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Great Tit
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| Woodpigeon |
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spot the Redwing?
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Wood Blewits pushing through
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small Hawthorn in full leaf already!
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garden escape Snowflakes blooming
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guano on the ivy is testimony to birds roosting above at night
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more guano on the nearby tree
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all quiet at the new pond
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the water level has gone down slightly
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usual view from the hide ramp
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and from the boardwalk
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work in progress?
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ah, yes indeed
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one of the ramps now under construction
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final view of the January meadow
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What will February bring?
please click on photos to enlarge them
