Christine's walking & birds blog

A bright morning again at Dorney Lake, Bucks. Huge orange sun, frost on the grass and mist rising from the water - and out of the mist a red kite came cruising, giving me a site tick.

At the first pool the shallow water just inside the bund was frozen. This is probably why two snipe were again on the far shore of the return lake. I was too clumsy and not watchful enough, because as I walked down the grassy slope near the bridge, a jack snipe took off from the waterline and flew across to the pool.

It took off without a sound. It didn't zig-zag, but flew unhurriedly with flickering wings and head held up. I'm sure now of my ID, so this time I'll tick it for the site.