Walking the dog

In a week's time, I will be leading my last guided walk for the Borough at the Country Park. Today, I took a shuffle round with the dog, to see what's changed of late.


'Cerise'
 
It was a 'grey day', somewhat overcast, but at least the gales had died down and it was not cold at 8C. The usual flotilla of Mallard had congregated along the path up to the Beefeater with a few Coot hangers-on. A plaintive Robin sang at the Sailing Club corner and a couple of skittish Blackbirds shot from one side of the path to the other, doubtless after Yew berries. No Greenfinch today; strange?

Further along at the SW corner, a flock of 16 Goldfinch emerged from the lakeside bushes and flew towards the river. Offshore, I spied 3 male Pochard heading towards the island. Pairs of Gadwall swam idly along, hither and thither. With the middle section closed to provide a winter wildfowl 'safe zone', the next stop was the hide. Pressmead produced nothing on the way there, not even a Chaffinch! A scruffy Tufted was hiding in the corner, more Mallard squawked their way out from the neighbouring reeds, more Gadwall idled 'offshore', a singleton male Pochard (not one of the three) hove into view and the masses of Coot "did Coot".

'Mallard', resting.

Walking on, I noticed the recent winds had brought a willow down across one of the swims. Approaching the 'beach', we encountered our first dog walkers. Glancing aside, I picked up a Little Grebe plunging into >10 feet of water as it spotted me. Crossing the cycle track to the lock, I checked out Fingers; not a lot - just two Cormorant fishing. Says it all - no wonder the anglers complain for ever and a day. Kramer hide - nil; well, one Heron.

Bumped into the lads, DK, Dave and John A, looking at a Magpie hanging (dead) in a tree on Kingsmead. On the intervening meadow there were 77 Wood Pigeons and a Jackdaw. Walking back to the 'rough', it was pretty dismal - the only consolation was one (or more) Siskin calling overhead. Flighty Shoveler on the Fingers (lilypads side), a desperate Cormorant, half a dozen Redwing and ... that's your lot.

I did get to hear a calling Chiff in the shelter belt that stretched from the 'rough' to the visitor centre, probably the best bird of the day.