Guided walk review

Despite retiring Errol led the guided walk again this month.

We headed off down the main path, from the visitor centre, towards the Finger lakes stopping to view the Shoveler and Pochard on the main lake. The Canada Geese are pairing off and taking up nesting sites on the main lake island. A Skylark flew over given away by the flight call.

We took a detour along the spit. There were 2 coot in the reeds in Lillypads and a third interloper was soon seen off. 2 Little Grebe in the same area were very vocal. 8 Tufted Ducks (6m2f) were accompanied by 2 Black-headed Gulls. At least 1 Reed Bunting was singing from the Crescent reed bed and we had the briefest of views as a Water Rail moved into deeper cover. The CW sang briefly, as we headed down to the navigation channel, but could not be located during a brief stop and search.

We headed downstream along the side of the navigation channel and located a single Greylag Goose with the Canadas on Kingsmead. We stopped at Kramer hide and located a couple of Little Grebe and were treated to a flyby Kingfisher. With little else showing we continued along the navigation channel and cut through the gate to the access road before heading along the cycle track towards Meadow Lane.

A scan across 100 acre revealed 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Lapwing, 1 Redshank and 4 Coot along with the gulls on the flooded area.

A Chiffchaff greeted us with it's simple song as we reached the railway bridge, and was soon located in the trees at the top of the embankment. Meadow Lane GP was home to 22 Tufted Ducks, a Little Grebe and a few Mallards.

We carried on along the path to the gateway and scanned the flooded area for Pipits and Wagtails and found 17 Ringed Plovers instead. A Skylark sang behind us as we watched the Plovers.

On the way back along the cycletrack a Grey wagtail and solitary Lapwing flew over. A Meadow Pipit was heard calling at the sewage works. Back across the river we followed the cut upstream and a Treecreeper was heard in the trees along its banks.

Finally we cut back across the fields to visitor centre having had a very enjoyable morning, and despite the showers and cold breeze.