Tuesday 28 January 2014

Fisher's Green

Last week had a nice trip to Fisher's Green a nice and surprising dry day producted good numbers of birds. We started from the Bittern hide where we had some nice views of a Waterail but sadly no bittern and outside one of our group had a Goosander swim by and around the lake lots of different waterfowl mainly Pochard, Shovelers and Tufted Ducks.  Then further round in the scrubby are great to see a group of about five Bullfinches feeding in the hedges along with Redwings and Fielfares in the field. Then we walked to the main lake where we had big numbers of Wigeon, Great Crested Grebe and winter waterfowl on the water before heading back along the river where we had sighting of a Little Grebe and a Munjac Deer in the woods before heading to the hide by the carpark where we had good views of the Redwings feeding in the fields and Finches and Tits around the feeders.


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Water Rail


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Munjac Deer


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Redwing


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Blue Tits

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Great Tits

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Monday 20 January 2014

Along the Grand Union Canal

Last weekend had a family walk along the Grand Union Canal started at Old Linsdale near Leighton Buzzard and walked to Stoke Hammond via the Three Locks and back a very nice walk and quieter than the Hertfordshire stretches that I usually walk which was nice. A few birds around mainly Thrushes with Song Thrushes, Fieldfares and Blackbirds feeding along the berries around the canal and nice view of a bonus Kingfisher flying briefly along the canal. As the weather was almost perfect the canal was looking good in the winters sunshine.


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The Bridge at Old Linsdale

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Boats at Old Linsdale

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Three Locks

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Boats Reflecting

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The Canal Between Three Locks and Stoke Hammond

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View down the Canal

Monday 6 January 2014

Dodging the showers in essex

Went to my dad on saturday just a shame about this wet weather we seem to be be having on non work days!!! Morning was just too wet to go out but after lunch it cleared for a few hours so had a nice walk around Blue House Farm EWT with the hightlight been the big fock gatherings with the Lapwing, Teal and Wigeon feeding but getting spooked by a pair of Marsh Harrier which were hunting low over the reed beds by the hide near the main river which also later on caused the starlings to do there delightful dance. Along the river nice views of a massive flock of Brent geese with 2-3000 easy flying to roost and as the light was fading a flock of waders flow over our heads to head a nice walk just as the rain came back.