So with Spring in the air and a spring in my step I set off from Brooklands car park and headed for the river which I knew would be at low tide, and it was. I arrived in the small wood with a dozen common species and a Common Gull on the list but apart from the inevitable Herons, Teal and Mallards all that caught my eye was six Shelducks, three males and three females, who were all swimming around each other doing the "Shelduck Shuffle" a strange dance, rocking back and forth on their bellies and extending their necks excitedly. I presume this is a kind of courtship ritual, I tried to copy it and that's probably how I got my stiff neck I think.
I didn't go across the East Scrub although I understand there were good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing in residence today, instead I walked back to the river with Den and Doreen where we found a Kingfisher and a couple of Redshanks and had good views of a Common Buzzard which drifted over the river just high enough to be out of camera range.
The last half an hour was well spent on the mound between the Sunken Marsh and Brooklands lake where we had a singing Chiffchaff, showing quite well as it flew out of the tree catching insects on the wing. You know the song, chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff etc. etc. etc., it does exactly what it says on the tin, endlessly.
Distant Sparrowhawk and Kestrel bought the raptor tally to a creditable three and a species count of 42. Last but by no means least was the super little critter below which I Weasily identified but wasn't Stoatally sure about!
WEASEL 
4 comments:
Still havn't got a singing chiffy Phil.
I'd love a weally good stoatally stonking pic of one of those beasties, they keep eluding me!
Hi Phil.
You was right about there being a good few Fieldfares and Redwings at the East Scrub. I happened to be there at lunchtime for a few hours, and I counted 15 Fieldfares, and 11 Redwings. There was plenty of activity in the tree's so there could have been more.Nice to see activity the Heronry coming along.
Well done with the Chiffchaff, and Weasel, and a good day was has by the sound of it.
Great shot of the Weasel Phil, I've only ever seen one as it has run across the road in front of me. Not going to get one now...we only get the Stoat over here. :o(
I felt I was there with you Phil! You write so entertainingly. I spent all last year hoping to see a Kingfisher but to no avail despite visiting the 'right' places.
How nice to see the Weasel, another unusual sight in my experience. Hope the stiff neck clears up soon :)
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