Swallows, Yellow Wagtails and Grebes that fight

A frosty morning, wisps of mist over the lake, and beautiful sunshine.

Perfect return after a weekend away from here.

The frost weighed the heads of the Cowslips down,

but the birds were singing with their heads held high.

Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Robin, Blackbird; and the biggest voice of all belonged to the tiny Wren.

 A powerhouse of a vocalist, considering his size.

Round the north lake, and over by the pub, the pair of Oystercatchers were with a group of geese; and the Lesser Black-backed Gull was in his usual spot, on the boat jetty. Sat on one of the buoys, was a Common Tern.

Up by the Kingfishers nest, and a possible disaster.

Two Magpies were hanging around the nest site, and no sign of the Kingfishers.

My guess is they've abandoned the site, which would be a great shame.

Further round the lake, and skimming over the water, were at least a dozen Sand Martins, joined by half a dozen Swallows.

Up by the weir, I met up with Graemme, and he joined me walking round the rest of the lake.

At the pub, a pair of Yellow Wagtails were foraging in the grass,

along with a few Pied Wagtails.

One of the Oystercatchers came in for a landing at the boat jetty,

and a group of Swallows were taking a deserved rest on the roof of the rowing club.

A long flight from Africa.

We made our way towards the south lake, and the sound of Chiffchaff seemed to be everywhere.

Towards the far end of the lake we finally caught up with a couple, and managed some pictures.

Past the offices, and a quick look in the bushes opposite found soon found a calling Willow Warbler.

As we made our way towards the rowing club, the sound of angry Great Crested Grebes.

Two males, I'm guessing, arguing over territory.

I managed to catch a small bit on video; one male trying unsuccessfully to drown the other. Nature can seem cruel at times.

Eventually we were back at the car park. A quick check on the feeders; not busy, and then time to go.

An enjoyable first day back, after chasing Ring Ouzels at Ivinghoe Beacon over the weekend.

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)

Little Egret [sp] (Egretta garzetta)

Grey Heron [sp] (Ardea cinerea)

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)

Yellow Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla flava)

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii)

British Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes indigenus)

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)

House Sparrow [sp] (Passer domesticus)

British Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs gengleri)

Reed Bunting [sp] (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Total species  37

Crows nesting and a Blackcap

Foggy start again, but sun later.

The squirrel continues to wreak havoc on one of the new 'squirrel proof' bird feeders.

I think the holes for the seed are too big, and he's scooping it out.

A Blackbird was singing his morning song from the treetops, and a Chiffchaff was calling from around the car park. Plenty of Magpies enjoying the bread and biscuit too.

After feeding the Mallards under the road bridge, I carried on up towards the island.

Far too foggy to see if the Kingfishers were about, but I did spot a Little Grebe.

 A nice surprise, because I only usually see these on the south lake.

The Canada Geese were quieter this morning, and a Green Woodpecker was digging away at one of the trees. I could hear some Wigeon out on the water, but too foggy to see them. Another Chiffchaff calling round here too, but equally invisible.

At the top end, a couple of Goosander swam off into the fog, and soon disappeared from view.

Once I was up by the pub, the sun was starting to burn through the fog making it easier to see out on the water. A Kingfisher flew past, and settled in the bushes by the boat jetty; until a jogger ran past. A couple of boats were now out on the water, and the Daffodils were looking radiant, as the sun tried to skip over them.

I made my way under the road bridge, and the walk round the south lake was bathed in sunlight. Lots of geese and swans taking to the air, as more boats powered their way through the water, in their relentless journey up and down the length of the lake.

At the far end a Chiffchaff calling by the railway, a couple of Little Grebe swimming around, and five Goosander swimming briefly by the island, until they took off, and flew further down the lake, away from the boats.

I watched a Crow snapping branches from the trees to build his nest, and then watched amazed as another Crow attacked him, while he was on his nest.

A brief skirmish, and then it was all over. One flew one way, and the other flew in the opposite direction.

Walking past the offices, I could hear a sound I haven't heard yet this year. A calling Blackcap.

 I eventually managed to find him. A lovely male, flitting through the branches of a tree, and calling as he went.

I carried on to where the Robin is usually waiting, left him some seed, and then spotted a Wren.

 A couple of quick shots before he disappeared into the bushes.

Past the rowing club, and up towards Cormorant island.

The Mute Swan was doing some adjustments to her nest, the Great Black-backed Gull was busily staring into space, and the pair of Oystercatchers were just chilling in the now warm sunshine.

At the car park I could hear the Chiffchaff in the trees, another Blackcap, and a Goldfinch, posing against the now blue sky.

And to round off an enjoyable morning, a clump of Lesser Celandine, shining in the sunlight.

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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)

Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser)

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)

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

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

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)

Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)

Common Kingfisher [sp] (Alcedo atthis)

Green Woodpecker [sp] (Picus viridis)

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)

British Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus obscurus)

British Great Tit (Parus major newtoni)

Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)

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  37

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Don't forget to put your clocks forward.