Spring visit.
With the weather less cold than we are enduring i had a visit too the lake too check out the birds.
Very sad to see how all species numbers were down, with the swans almost reduced by two thirds. Why i cant be sure but its worrying.
Good to see two pairs of Great-crested grebes on the lakes. both going through early courtship rituals, 9 photographers hoping for special images but the pairs played hard to get by staying distant.
Gulls and pigeons erupted from the sports center roof a predator was about and sure enough a male Sparrowhawk tried his luck and missed.
Several pairs of Coot are already nesting, and Tufted,, Pochard, and Mallard made up the bulk of the wildfowl
Only waders were a pair of Oystercatcher we believe they may be nesting on the nearby racecourse.
A change in the wind meant gathering clouds and a drop in temperature, so it was off back home, a canny couple of hours watching and chinwagging, time well spent.