Up early for a guided walk at the Park (Priory). The weather was a bit 'iffy', with a cold, damp wind and just above freezing (2C). Bird wise it was a bit limited but the object was to see the wildfowl before they leave for their breeding grounds.
First of the day was a Greater Black-back Gull, a really scarce bird here. Then on to 6 Wigeon by the sailing club. They moved up onto the grass and the GBBG landed amongst them. There were 13 Cormorants lined up on the piling, keeping watch. After we moved off, we stopped at a mixed bunch of birds, feeding on the lake-side veg.
A family of 7 swans, several Pochard (both sexes), Mallard, ten or so Coot and two pairs of Gadwall. Three Black-headed Gulls surrounded a lone Common Gull. Turning round and looking at the meadow, we saw 5 Blackbirds and 7 Redwing - until a terrier frightened them into the Hawthorn bushes.
On Fingers we found 2 male Tufted, two pairs of Great Crested Grebes setting up territory and starting on their nesting platforms, 3 Cormorant and an adult male Shoveler, an immature trying to look like "his dad", and an accompanying female. It looked like a pair of Blue Tits had already found the new nest box that we put up yesterday. The rangers have been busy this week and cut a swathe through the Corn Bunting roost in the 'Crescent' reedbed. No sign of the resident Chiff.
We wandered past 'the beach', up along the canoe slalom and up the river. A large party of Long-tailed Tits favoured us and several Goldfinches twittered their presence. On was taking pollen from the new Alder catkins, something I've not seen them doing before. Round at the hide, we were able to get close views of the the Pochard and some more male Tufteds. The main flock (150+) was sheltering behind the island - until a wind surfer appeared past the southern tip and put the birds to flight. I savoured the moment as they flew a couple of circuits of the lake before landing in the middle of the "safe zone". For those who don't know, the western side of the 64ac (29ha) lake is a wildfowl sanctuary and closed to the sailing club from 1st November until the end of March, whereas they have a 25yr lease on the eastern half.
We then walked up the old tow-path, Cardington Walk, passed the ancient pollarded willows. We were out of the wind but there was little to see or hear. There was no sign of the hoped for Stonechats and we could only hear the piping of the Teal on the Fenlake pool, obscured by the bankside growth. A large flock of Canada Geese, with the Greylag x Canada taking up the head, drifted downstream passed an angler fishing for Pike.
Then it was pack to terra firma along 'Blackbird alley' behind the sailing club clubhouse and the remains of the Priory Wall. Mainly 'garden birds' here with a Greenfinch 'wheezing' from the top of the only large Sycamore in the park. Finally farewell to the regulars and to Faith, a newcomer and immigrant lady from Sydney. Then home for a bath; not that I'm dirty, just needed warming up!
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