contentednest: Great Crested Grebes

An early start at the lake this morning, but unfortunately it was thick fog.

Very thick.

After topping up the feeders, and filming some of the singing stars, I made my way round the north lake. In some places the fog seemed thicker than others; the thickest was in the middle of the lake.

Some of the reed areas were beautifully lit by the sun, as it started to burn through the fog.

No sign of the Kingfishers this morning, but a few Mallards were perched in some unusual places.

The roof of a house........

....and someone's garden fence.

At the top end of the lake, by the dam, the sun had slowly begun to work its magic,

gradually burning through the fog.

As I made my way round to the pub, a text came through.

Trevor was in the car park.

I hurried on to the car park, and after a quick coffee, we made our way round the north lake again; this time in sunshine. The fog had cleared.

First bird we spotted was a Common Tern on one of the buoys; then about a dozen Sand Martins, and a couple of House Martins.

Great to see these birds again, after their long journeys from their wintering places.

Almost up at the dam, and we spotted a pair of Great Crested Grebes performing the 'head waggle'.

After a quick performance, one submerged. The weed dance?

Up he came, with a bill full of weed, and soon the second bird was racing towards him, with a bill full of weed too.

Managed to catch it on video.

Further on round the lake, we saw a Swallow, and as we eventually neared the pub, a pair of Canada Geese were involved in some 'head dipping', the way Mute Swans do prior to some loving.

Video camera at the ready, and another loving moment captured.

The south lake held the usual regulars, along with some firemen testing some of their equipment down by the rowing club.

Finally as we neared Cormorant island, the pair of Oystercatchers flew by, and landed on the island.

Another great morning.

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)

Little Grebe [sp] (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Great Crested Grebe [sp] (Podiceps cristatus)

Great Cormorant [sp] (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Grey Heron [sp] (Ardea cinerea)

Common Buzzard [sp] (Buteo buteo)

Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)

Common Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)

Eurasian Oystercatcher [sp] (Haematopus ostralegus)

Lesser Black-backed Gull [sp] (Larus fuscus)

Common Tern [sp] (Sterna hirundo)

Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)

Sand Martin [sp] (Riparia riparia)

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)

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)

British Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs gengleri)

European Greenfinch [sp] (Carduelis chloris)

European Goldfinch [sp] (Carduelis carduelis)

Reed Bunting [sp] (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Total species 38

Once the fog cleared, a sunny morning again.

Plenty of Chiffchaff calling all round the lake today.

Lovely to hear them.

A Song Thrush was quite bold, briefly,

before getting down to the business of searching for worms.

Up at the island, I got some good views of the Kingfishers for a change, as the mist slowly cleared.

At the top end of the north lake, a group of Goosander were chasing around on the water.

A pair of Mute Swans have decided to build a nest in a very precarious place.

Right at the edge of the lake, and in potential danger from any dogs that are left to run around.

The daffodils near the pub, were looking lovely in the sunlight,

and the Crow seems contented in his nest, on top of the pub.

The south lake was pretty quiet, until I reached the far end.

More Chiffchaff were calling along the way, and after stopping to feed the Robin, a pair of Blackcap were busily foraging through the branches of the trees.

Past the rowing club, a few geese flying around,

and then back at the car park, more Chiffchaff and Blackcap calling.

Out on the water, a pair of Great Crested Grebes were performing the weed dance; unfortunately it meant trying to capture it through the reeds, and into the sun.

Another good morning.