Tuesday, January 01, 2013
The first day of the year
And what a day - blue skies and sunshine! I felt bad about going out while Greger is still housebound with a cold, but he was adamant that I should go.
It was muddy work getting across the field into Egypt Woods in Buckinghamshire and pretty wet underfoot once I was in there, but a lesser spotted woodpecker made it all worthwhile.
Driving away, I snapped the kite through the car windscreen.
***
I went home for lunch, getting a newspaper for Greger on the way, and then went to Dorney Wetlands. I was lucky with parking, someone just leaving as I arrived. The Jubilee River was a very popular place this afternoon, providing quite a culture shock after the peace and quiet of the morning woods. I'm afraid this made me rather grumpy.
I couldn't see any waxwings, but enjoyed watching some nice tawny redpolls feeding in alders.
Standing by the information boards I could see a distant stonechat on the north bank. One of the two remaining bullocks on the north bank was standing against the walkers' gate; I slapped him on the rump (which usually works with the cattle in Burnham Beeches), but he just looked at me reproachfully while the second one gave a mournful "moo". They were waiting for the farmer to bring them fresh fodder. In the end I climbed over the vehicle gate, and trudging across the muddy churned-up ground, got close enough to get a record shot of the stonechat.
Water rails and Cetti's warblers were vocal in several locations and half a dozen snipe could just be seen dozing on West Marsh. My day list came to a pitiful 41, but I enjoyed the walks and I'm more than happy with these sightings on what was a truly beautiful day.
// posted by Christine @ 9:03 AM 
