19/02/2021-Garden birds and Lakeside walk
I took the first picture in this photoset of a Goldfinch in the garden with a slightly different whiter feather formation on its back currently. It was interesting how sweet one looked with just a little bit more white on. I also took other pictures I was pleased with the second and third in this photoset of Woodpigeon and House Sparrow out the back before I went out for my lunch time Lakeside walk. I took the fourth, fifth and sixth pictures in this photoset on my walk today of a tree on the way to Lakeside and two landscapes there.
I walked up the northern path in light rain and down in the relative shelter of the path west of the westernmost lake. Here I was absolutely thrilled once again to see one of the halves of one of the Great Crested Grebe pairs sat on a nest nestled in beneath where the trees delicately overhang the lake. I took the seventh picture in this photoset of this bird a shot I had tried before this year but not succeeded with as its very hard to focus through the tree branches but I just about managed to get a sharp picture or a mostly sharp picture of the bird today I would say before I walked on. So I was delighted with this. I am glad its so hard to get a picture as it means the nest does have protection of the trees, but its still very close to the path and quite vulnerable I know predators have been a problem for them in the past. So we’ll see how they get on. It was very exciting and amazing to be close to a nest and really see a key sign of spring in the nesting season edging closer and closer. I cannot wait for this season to grow and for all the courtship, breeding and the eventually young bird behaviour to really come on.
On a sad note I did spot a bit of plastic in the nest this species is known for collecting all sorts to line nests it does put a dampner on it a little I just hope the birds and any prospective young ones don’t come to serious harm because of it. I had to just be very happy on my lunch time walk whilst working from home I got to enjoy an important part of the year for one of my favourite birds.
I walked on taking the eighth, ninth and tenth pictures in this photoset of the lake just past the grebe, a view from the hidden away little bit with a big bench in the woods I discovered on Tuesday and a view looking out from the trees further down the western path in woods which I used to get back as it rained quite hard into the field at the back of the site. The ninth one I tried to take a version of on Tuesday but I forgot to bring a spare camera battery with me that day and my battery ran out when I was taking that shot and I couldn’t do it so it was good to get it done eventually. Also looking out from in the woods I spotted a great sign of spring further down on the walk with lots of daffodils in the nearby Concorde club’s grounds they always are nice here and great to look at. It was wonderful to see this sign of spring on a walk this week after spotting some in our garden now a very key and hopeful early sign of the time of year. Today taking me into the weekend nicely I hope you all had a safe week and have a good weekend.
Wildlife Sightings Summary: One of my favourite birds the Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Goose and Greylag Goose still nicely present key spring birds here for when they come to nest, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Starling, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon and Collared Dove.
