Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Dorney's wet lands
I think both floods this morning were the biggest I've seen them. Here, a line of gulls defines a watery arm reaching out towards the road.
It was still possible to walk between the common flood and the Roundmoor Ditch - just.
When the wetlands first opened, to reach the kissing gate you had to cross this marshy offshoot of the stream as best you could in rainy weather - on bits of wood, old bicycle wheels, etc; I presume it was the Environment Agency who built up the "bridge" which we now take for granted. Thanks, EA.
A chiffchaff was in song near the gate. Staring into the plantation I spotted a chiffchaff - and then found myself face-to-face with what looked like a willow warbler. The bird slipped away out of sight immediately and was almost certainly another chiffchaff.
Downstream of the mesmerising weir, the Eton Wick flood had reached the near fence of the field.
Once again I located a single redpoll in the alders, but could see no siskins.
It was a lovely walk from Lake End Road in bright, windy conditions - quite a surprise after a grim morning at home, where we had a prolonged cloudburst with heavy rain that turned eventually into hail.
// posted by Christine @ 6:50 AM 
