contentednest: Cuckooflower

A very short video today, because the camera continues to play up; I can't recharge one of the flat batteries, the other won't last very much longer, and the new camera doesn't arrive till Wednesday.

Bugger!

After topping up the feeders, I headed straight to the reeds, to catch sight of the calling Reed Warbler.

A shame the light wasn't better, but the sun soon began to make an appearance as I made my way round the north lake.

Some coloured marker buoys were stretched across the water; there was to be a Dragon Boat Race later. Much noise, crowds and distraction.

Thankfully I'll be away before all this happens.

I fed the pair of Mallards under the road bridge, and leaving them behind, I was soon at the reed bed up near the island, listening to the second Reed Warbler. No sign of him though.

A Cormorant was fishing in the sunlight though,

and a single Kingfisher sat in the trees on the island.

I made my way up to the top end of the lake, and found a Coot sitting on his nest.

A very grand affair. More like a tower block; impressively tall.

As I made my way along the path towards the weir, my mobile rang.

It was Trevor; he was under the road bridge on the other side of the lake.

We arranged to meet up at the road bridge, and continue round the south lake.

Very little else on the water, and as I began to make my way round the back of the pub, a Mute Swan flew by,

backlit by the sun.

Past the pub, and lots of activity as a group of people were setting up for the boat race.

I met Trevor, and we made our way towards the shrubs where I'd seen the Sedge Warbler yesterday.

No luck today though. We searched and strained our ears to no avail.

Even checking along the edge of the river; but nothing.

We carried on round the lake.

As we got the far end, we met Graham. A quick chat, and then we made our way to the bird pallets; and then on to where the Mute Swan had been nesting.

Graham showed us where he'd found one of the swans eggs; undamaged.

It's looking more like 'human' involvement in the destruction of the nest site.

As we got near the rowing club, there were plenty of boats out on the south lake.

Dragon Boats on the north, and rowing boats on the south.

Who'd be a water bird at the weekends?

As we passed the jetties, and made our way round by the houses, a small bird flew by, and landed back by the rowing club.

A Common Sandpiper.

He didn't stay there long though; too much activity going on, so he flew across to Cormorant island. As he settled, a couple more birds flew in, calling loudly.

Oystercatchers!

Not the usual two, but three.

They settled on the island, and began some display.

The display usually associated with a mating male, except there were two displaying, and one just seemed to be ignoring the whole thing.

Was this two males vying for the attention of a female?

Maybe........but certainly fascinating to watch.

Back by the car park area, we searched for the calling Reed Warbler, and took some pictures of one of the many Cuckooflowers growing there.

And a parting picture before we headed off, of a calling Chiffchaff.

An excellent morning; just a shame about all the boats.

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)

Little Grebe [sp] (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Great Crested Grebe [sp] (Podiceps cristatus)

Great Cormorant [sp] (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Grey Heron [sp] (Ardea cinerea)

Eurasian Sparrowhawk [sp] (Accipiter nisus)

Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)

Common Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)

Eurasian Oystercatcher [sp] (Haematopus ostralegus)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

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)

Green Woodpecker [sp] (Picus viridis)

Barn Swallow [sp] (Hirundo rustica)

House Martin [sp] (Delichon urbicum)

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii)

British Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes indigenus)

British Dunnock (Prunella modularis occidentalis)

British Robin (Erithacus rubecula melophilus)

Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)

British Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos clarkei)

Eurasian Reed Warbler [sp] (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

Blackcap [sp] (Sylvia atricapilla)

Common Chiffchaff [sp] (Phylloscopus collybita)

Willow Warbler [sp] (Phylloscopus trochilus)

British Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus rosaceus)

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)

House Sparrow [sp] (Passer domesticus)

British Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs gengleri)

European Greenfinch [sp] (Carduelis chloris)

European Goldfinch [sp] (Carduelis carduelis)

Reed Bunting [sp] (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Total species 44

After a great two weeks in Wales, today was the first venture round the lake.
And what a venture!

As I topped up the feeders, a Kingfisher was calling and flying up and down along the edge of the water. A good start.

The grass in front of the feeders, is now a mass of Cowslips, all flowering.

Quite a sight.

A couple of Chiffchaff calling around by the car park, along with a couple of Willow Warblers,

and a male Blackcap.

There were to be more of these, all around the lake.

The sun was shining by now, and another Kingfisher flew past the nest site.

At the top end of the north lake, a distinct lack of 'winter ducks', and across the lake, the pair of Mute Swans were happily nesting close to the edge of the lake.

Probably not the best of places.

As I made my way around the back of the pub, a single Wheatear was foraging in the grass, and amongst the mole hills.

Only the second one I've seen here.

He soon flew up into the trees,

and then flew off north.

A few Cuckooflower's were out in flower, amongst the grass,

or sometimes known as Lady's Smock.

Past the pub, and on towards the south lake. A look over to Cormorant island, and in the far distance, a Common Sandpiper, along the edge.

He's the little white crescent on the edge of the shore.

A very heavy crop and shot towards the sun.
A terrible picture, but I always like to try and get some video, or a picture, of what I see, just in case some of the grown ups doubt what I see.

And the next bird was a cracker!

The picture is equally poor, he was very mobile, and took off into the bush, so it was a case of shoot and hope; but it's not everyday I see a Redstart here.

A stunning male, too. He's smack in the middle of the frame.

At the top end of the south lake, and under the railway arch, a lone Bluebell, brightening up the darkness there.

The Little Grebes were swimming in their usual spot, and more warblers calling from the bushes.
By the offices, a pair of Mute Swans have built a nest, where a Heron used to love to fish. I don't suppose he'll be fishing there for a while.

One of the swans had a couple of rings on, so I'll try to find out where he was ringed.

My guess would be in Bedford; some of them usually find their way here.

As I reached the car park, a quick shower of hale and rain; but not enough to dampen a cracking morning.