A very quick visit in the rain this morning, because the new video camera is due for delivery anytime after 7:30 a.m.
(update; it's just arrived ----------- but still raining)
A welcoming party of Mallards were waiting at the car park as I arrived. Three to begin with, and then more turned up.
A quick look for the Reed Warbler, and managed to glimpse him through the reeds, before setting off under the road bridge, and the north lake.
The pair of Mallards came running over when they saw me; how could I resist not feeding them?
On to the footbridge, and the Heron was sat fishing underneath. He soon left for a quick circuit round part of the lake, and then returned, once I'd left.
A Kingfisher flew past the island, and a couple of Common Terns were flying overhead.
Past some of the houses, and a couple of Mallard were sitting on the roof, admiring the view.
Along the edge of the river, another Heron was patiently stood in the rain.
On the metal fence, up by the weir, a female Mallard had perched herself there.
As I reached the weir, a female Mallard hurried past with three ducklings. The first I've seen this year.
She quickly took them off to the safety of bushes by the edge.
Only three. Maybe she's lost some already?
Full list of today's sightings
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Greylag Goose [sp] (Anser anser)
Greater Canada Goose [sp] (Branta canadensis)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Great Crested Grebe [sp] (Podiceps cristatus)
Great Cormorant [sp] (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Grey Heron [sp] (Ardea cinerea)
Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)
Common Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull [sp] (Larus fuscus)
Common Tern [sp] (Sterna hirundo)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Common Kingfisher [sp] (Alcedo atthis)
Sand Martin [sp] (Riparia riparia)
Barn Swallow [sp] (Hirundo rustica)
House Martin [sp] (Delichon urbicum)
British Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes indigenus)
British Dunnock (Prunella modularis occidentalis)
British Robin (Erithacus rubecula melophilus)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
Eurasian Reed Warbler [sp] (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
British Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus obscurus)
British Great Tit (Parus major newtoni)
Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)
Rook [sp] (Corvus frugilegus)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Common Starling [sp] (Sturnus vulgaris)
European Greenfinch [sp] (Carduelis chloris)
Reed Bunting [sp] (Emberiza schoeniclus)
Total species 31