It was cool and breezy as we walked around the lake this morning but at least it stayed dry. It's raining now as I type these words so I feel that we saw the best of the day.
Everything seemed winter brown and colourless as we walked around the edge of the lake and along the muddy paths.
Although there is always beauty to be found especially in the bare winter trees.
It seemed to be a bit of a swan day around the lake today, these two caught my eye in their woolly winter scarves but it was time to seek out the real ones.
They were hanging about the paths as people were feeding them with grain.
They seem completely unfazed by walkers, dogs, children, buggies, joggers and mobility scooters all of which we saw pass them by.
Further around the lake by the miniature railway we found the black swans.
Still keeping themselves together as a family unit. Cob and pen had four cygnets in the spring and three have survived.
Around the other side of the lake we caught sight of my favourite geese the Greylags.
Some of them were stretching their legs and flapping their wings almost like ballet exercises
We spotted six herons. Five by the edge of the heronry. The one above had ventured out to the lakeside but was hiding itself quite well.
There were lots of crows about too
They always look disgruntled don't they?
Thinking about birds and in particular those that visit our garden I've registered, as I have done for quite a few years now, to participate in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch which takes place from 25th to 27th January. I always look forward to sitting and recording the birdy visitors to the garden.
I'll be back in a few days with some recent winter reading.
I love to see herons but I am a bit wary about swans!!
ReplyDeleteSwans can turn a bit nasty when they are protecting their cygnets usually along canal towpaths, I think these swans are used to people wandering by. Herons are somehow prehistoric aren't they?:)
DeleteWhat a lovely place to walk. Lovely to see the swans especially the black ones and the Greylag Geese and herons - a super set of photos :) It was dry here too this morning but the rain arrived by lunchtime.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing what you have seen in the RSPB Garden Birdwatch - no doubt we will find as always that some of the regulars fail to show up! Also look forward to seeing what you have been reading recently :)
Oh, yes I expect all the usual birds will see me settle down in the conservatory with pen, paper and five bar gate system and stay over the other side of the hedge until the hour is over!:)
DeleteCrows always do look out-of-sorts!!!!!! -smile-
ReplyDeleteEach of these swans seem to stay in their own area... Do they ever interbreed, I wonder?
Good thing you went out, when you did! "We saw the better part of the day..." I love that phrase.
Ohhhh, a post about what you have been reading! Yes, yes, yes! -smile-
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I'm always a bit wary of crows and jackdaws especially, when I was a child a jackdaw used to terrorise people in our village by flying at their heads. Catching them unawares as they passed by. So wet and gloomy here over the last few days:)
DeleteTalk about Swan Lake. Great pics and love the swans in scarves. It's years since I've seen any black swans. How lovely. Thanks for the reminder about the birdwatch. I shall be joining in! X
ReplyDeleteWhen we first started walking around the lake over twenty years ago when it was free to go in there were hardly any swans but the population has built up and now there are black ones too:)
DeleteNice birdlife you came across on your walk. I'm not sure i have ever seen a black swan. The swans in scarves was fun.
ReplyDeleteThe first black sawns I saw were at Dawlish in Devon where there seems to be quite a lot of them. We see them around here at Trentham Gardens and the JCB lake at Rocester:)
DeleteI love the fact that there's always something to see, even in the bare winter, and these birds are lovely. I especially like those black swans, I don't think I've ever seen so many together before. I'm planning to do the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, too. x
ReplyDeleteBare winter trees can be so beautiful, can't they? I'm so glad the black swans were able to rear some cygnets this year. I don't know whether some of them will move on or stay around the lake and river. I hope they do stay:)
DeleteStrange how a few birds can enliven a winter walk to such an extent. When I visited Welney recently they had, as part of a display, three white sacks with grain in them represented the weight of the Mute, Whooper and Bewick swans and you were invited to pick them up to see how heavy they were. All I can say is that it's a wonder that any of them can get airborne!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing watching the swans take off across the lake the flap of their wings is a wonderful sound. What a good idea to be able to lift the sacks to see how much the swans have to lift into the air:)
DeleteA real treat to see your swans this morning in all their wintery surroundings. Great fun to see the ones with scarves! Fancy it being the Big Garden Birdwatch again already. 😊
ReplyDeleteThe birdwatch seems to come round very quickly doesn't it? The swans really made the walk this morning, they were all out of the water and looking for food:)
DeleteNice to get out before the rain! It's good to see the Black Swans are doing well and I always love to see Herons. I'm all signed up for the birdwatch too :)
ReplyDeleteWe saw quite a few herons hanging around the edges of the lake and the island. I always hope to see a few different birds on the birdwatch weekend, usually we see them the week before or the week after:)
DeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you:)
DeleteThe black swans are so striking to look at. I like disgruntled crows! One follows my sister every time she goes to the park. She now makes sure she takes along something to feed it with. I might do the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. I will have to climb out of the window though as my doors won't open in this damp weather!
ReplyDeleteOh dear I hope you can get into the garden, or watch through a window. I was out today doing some trimming back of damp, brown straggling leaves and branches, things look a bit tidier now. We always try to spot the black swans:)
DeleteThis looks like a lovely, if muddy, walk. It is far too cold and snowy to walk outdoors here at the moment and I do miss the fresh air and exercise. Thank you for sharing your visit - great photos. Marie x
ReplyDeleteI remember from your book that when you get heavy snow you use the indoor walking arena for exercise, not the same as a walk outdoors and some fresh air though:)
DeleteWhat lovely birds they are.
ReplyDeleteThey are healthy, well fed birds:)
DeleteIf even the swans are wearing woolly scarves you know that it is proper winter weather. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
You certainly do Amalia, they will need them today as it is cold, wet and very windy:)
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