With a nice clear brisk day it seemed like a good idea to go for a walk around the lakes at Rickmansworth.
Bury Lake by the car park had its usual collection of mute swan, mallard, tufties and gadwall. At a distance away in the trees was what sounded like a ring necked parakeet but it was heading away so I didn't get a view. Moving onto the north side of Stockers Lake the low sun and clear sky made visibility difficult. The open water seemed pretty clear anyway but I couldn't make out any details although from the calls it was clear that there were no wigeon present this time.
Once I reached the west side things became clearer. Come of the smnaller islands had been cleared of trees and undergrowth to make them suitable for ground nesting birds. A flock of around 30 lapwing were well hidden until they suddenly took to the air and spent several minutes wheeling around the lake before returning to land swooping past an inpurtbable heron.
This more than made up for the lack of common pochard and wigeon which I was expecting but better was to come. Just around the corder was a small party of red crested pochard with 5 drakes and 2 ducks huddled in the shelter of one of the islands.
It always helps to pay attention to what other birders are looking at, especially one using a camera with a lens bigger tham most telescopes! A goldeneye was very considerately posing to give is his best profile as shown in all good field guides. Further along the path was another goldeneye and with the sun behind me a fair sized party of shoveller with the plumage showing up very nicely.
Health issues mean that I haven't been paying any attention to my blogs but I was roused from my afternoon cup of tea today but a most unholy racket. Yes the parakeets have finallyarrived in my part of Chesham with a flock of five in the tree in my neighbours garden. It had to come eventually as they have been in Rickmansworth for years. Not much else happening apart from the usual circling kites and the occasional buzzard. I haven't seen anything eating my rowan berries but the tree is being steadily stripped. Usually its a mix of wood pigeons and blackbirds. Collared doves seem to be back in this end of the village as I saw a pair while waiting for the bus this week. They used to be garden regulars but hadn't seen any near the house for years.
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