#patch tick

12/02/2021-Another icy day of birds at Lakeside (Shoveler and more) 10 different photos in this set to those tweeted tonight (Retrospectively posted)

My Lakeside lunch time walk was shaped by two key decisions today I think. Firstly, with me from looking at an iced over bird bath and my expectation the lakes would be frozen again so after not expecting this and not taking it yesterday I would take my new general lens to Lakeside to capture the iced lake scenes in my outfit of two lenses for my DSLR or DSLR with one lens attached and bridge camera for these lunch time walks I decided to go for the bridge camera instead of the big lens which has done well this week I must say just in case that Smew that had been reported was around in some of the water left and it was far away with my bridge camera the longest distance specialist I think. I took the first picture in this photoset with my normal lens on my DSLR of a view around the estate as I went out for my walk. The second key decision was deviating from my planned route down the gravel path through the two nature reserve areas when I saw people walking down and felt I couldn’t overtake them due to social distancing and that I may be slowed up walking behind them so I instead decided to start where I was going to end my walk going inside the fences of the railway tracks with the trains not running and overlooking the nature reserve area. I took the second picture in this photoset when on the way to the vantage point over the frozen now too boggy pools which have been frozen for much of the past few months the photo showing some nice greenery. 

As I walked on a kind lady told me there were deers in the field further up. When I got there a man with dogs was looking over and engrossed by a sight and I soon saw delightfully at the edge of the water the two Roe Deers there. I was thrilled to see these beautiful mammals, it was such a special view watching the sun shine against them too in beautiful surroundings. It was cracking views I really got the chance to enjoy them it was one of those gleefully intimate wildlife moments especially coming in a working day during an exercise walk. We are being encouraged at work to make the most of our breaks and get fresh air if we can a lot lately and in the depths of a winter its quite cold as I write this (in the early hours 13/02/2021) the deers and everything else today really summed up how inspiring and uplifting nature can be to give me a little break in my days to the highest level of quality. I took the third picture in this photoset of one of the two deers, the big lens would have done well too I think here but it was right in bridge camera range so was I glad I brought it. 

As I walked on with the Water Rail said to be around here in the wet bits in mind I was thrilled when a group of Jack Snipe flew up, more than the one I loved seeing on Monday. Only a year tick a week ago tomorrow, that’s three times I’ve seen this bird in a week which is pretty special. The colder weather definitely helping me to see them here as I mentioned at the start of the week. At a safe social distance myself and the dog walker did share a brief word on the wonderful experience of the deers. And then before I moved on calling from the northern path up above was a man I quite often see since last summer on my walks who was interested and happy to see them too and I told him about the snipes so whilst yes we are on lockdown and what I am doing coming here is taking my one form of permitted daily exercise outside the house you can still take brief moments to talk to and acknowledge people as long as you are at a safe social distance and that also uplifts you in itself. I took the fourth and fifth pictures in this photoset over the direction of the frozen lakes as I walked on. 

Then with the Smew on the mind and the Goosander that dominated last week here fresh in it I had another fantastic duck moment as I took in the westernmost lake in binoculars as a beautiful Shoveler was at the back of the lake. I deviated route once more to go and get a closer and I was so happy to see this wonderful bird I am more used to seeing on the coast. It was exceptional to make out its stunning colours and quirky bill and I got probably my closest ever Shoveler views today when I got beside it on the path in the strip of unfrozen water. It swam up and down near to a Great Crested Grebe pair which I loved seeing and taking in at such a close distance too especially enjoying their splendid colour and appearance. To go with my closest ever Shoveler sighting I think with my bridge camera I got my best ever pictures of this bird today I tweeted these on Dans_Pictures tonight. I did take the sixth picture in this photoset of the Great Crested Grebes and I tweeted another tonight I am having a great few weeks for the grebes here which I love so much. I also was happy to see a Lesser Black-backed Gull flying in during an eventful few minutes of birds on this lake whilst walking. 

The Shoveler was a special sighting for me at Lakeside as my first patch tick of 2021 and possibly even the first ever bird I’ve described as a patch tick as I only put together my patch and garden/seen from house lists for birds, butterflies, mammals and dragon/damselflies in December, as I had never seen this bird at Lakeside before. This felt fantastic to see this stunning bird I really was so excited, my 71st different species I have ever seen at the urban Lakeside Country Park. What a duck scene we have developing this winter at Lakeside. For the past year as before really I have been used to Mallard and maybe a Tufted Duck here and there. But from the increasing flock of tufties that its great to see at Lakeside and now the Goosander and now Shoveler with that Smew reported there is so much about in terms of ducks. I remember early on in 2013 at Hatchet Pond in the New Forest sightings of Shoveler and Goosander top birds for that lake reignited my interest in year listing really after a poor 2012 for me. So to see both at my local Lakeisde recently and have one noted for my patch list was special. Shoveler could be top 5-7 for birds seen on my lunch breaks whilst working from home at Lakeside that special club. The westernmost lake shown looking quite nice in the seventh picture I took today in this photoset. 

As I walked on I liked seeing and photographing birds I am more familiar with here both Coot and Mallard on ice which I took the eighth and tenth pictures in this photoset I loved as with yesterday observing this with other birds such as Moorhen and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls now around on beach lake the easternmost too as I tweeted photos of and I took the ninth picture in this photoset of some of the ever increasing Tufted Ducks here with one Mallard. There’s something so unique and special about seeing birds on ice as I said a lot yesterday. Today brought to an end arguably the best week of Lakeside walks for me since working from home and ever or one of. From Monday-Friday each walks be it photographically or wildlife particularly birds have been to a sizzling standard. With both snow and ice and plenty of sun too landscape photography wise, and for birds rarer ones, returning springtime birds at this area and just the sheer volumne of how many notable birds I saw all things linked to each to other. Each day offered something smashing and different and I loved every minute. I’ll be talking about this week for a while to come I think. Thanks for all your supporting during it and have a great weekend if you are able to.