Thursday 26 November 2020

Lady of the Lake - Arthurian Legend (Part II)

 After release of the Common Carp we set our sights on the Main Island where was found, not surprisingly, residents and those which may have already moved in for the Winter?

CORMORANTs
along with the c3 species of Egret including
CATTLE EGRET (yellow bill) LITTLE EGRET
and ever present
BLACK-HEADED GULLs
Also in attendance a single
GREAT WHITE EGRET
which are always of great value
if only for their
Contorting Necks.
Heading towards the
Hampreston Water Meadows
another familiar sight as more
CORMORANTs
indulge themselves in their High Wire acts.
Directly below the pylon 2
GREY HERONs
were in 'stalking mode'
While circumnavigating the South Lake, the larger of the 2, we happened across
mostly more of the same but conducting different activities with male
TUFTED DUCK and POCHARD
looking to be in a serious 'face-off' while
GREAT CRESTED GREBE
and yes, sorry to say,
even more
CORMORANTs
were engaged in 'hunting' and around this side of the lake the
LITTLE EGRETs
were favouring perches
in the
SALLOWs
Only a few paces from the car park there was to be something of a minor and unexpected finale, as all of ours have now disappeared, a lone
STONECHAT
feeding on the reed seed-heads.