We took a short walk at Trentham on Monday morning. It was a gloomy day and damp in the air. After coffee at the lakeside cafe we strolled along enjoying the quiet and the views across the still icy lake.
There were some wonderful reflections.
I do wonder why people have to throw logs and bricks on to the ice. We saw it again at Westport Lake today. There the council had a boat out to scoop things from the water and the ice.
We watched a Coot struggling to skate on the ice, it eventually sorted itself out, thank goodness, and returned to the water. I did take a photo but unfortunately it was quite blurred. I did manage to capture a photo of this pair of Mallards close by.
As we walked the wind picked up and it became quite breezy. We made a circuit and turned to go back to the cafe as we'd parked our car at the South entrance near the Monkey Forest. As we approached a couple ahead were chatting to a member of staff at the cafe. We noticed the chairs being put on the tables and wondered what was happening. Apparently the gardens and lakeside were being closed as high wind had been forecast, people were being asked to leave. We were near to our car but the other couple had to walk all the way back to the North entrance.
I did mange to take a few photos of birds on the way round.
Crow on a bench. There are lots of them about at the moment. They always seem more noticeable at this time of year and their call is evocative of cold, wintry days.
There were even more Robins, they were everywhere. We saw lots of them today, posing in leafless bushes and flitting across the path as we walked. We have a pair in the garden at home too.
Not sure what this duck is. There were two or three of them amongst the Mallards. This one just wanted to snooze for a while in the warmer air.
My favourite goose the Greylag. There is just something special about them.
There was a huge gaggle of them on the pathway up above the lakeside.
All for now. Take care.
I love the greylag geese. What a shame the cafe was closed but at least you were near your car. We too have had some rather grey gloomy days. Roll on some blue skies. B x
ReplyDeleteLuckily we'd had a coffee before we walked, it is a shame it had to close as many people use it. The greylags are wonderful, I just love their shape. Dry today here with the hint of blue sky:)
DeleteWe had similar gloomy but gusty weather on Monday. Your unidentified sleeping duck is a Shelduck.
ReplyDeleteThank you John, a Shelduck. It was an attractive bird and mingled in with the others:)
DeleteI so love your English robins! You photo is just perfect. Expecting some bad weather here at the end of the week. Well, it is December!
ReplyDeleteThe robin just posed for me and I got it just right, it does happen sometimes. Yes, it is December and Winter weather is to be expected, I hope your bad weather passes soon:)
DeleteLovely birds!
ReplyDeleteThey are, I love photographing birds:)
DeleteWhat a lovely bevy of bird photos. I also love your robins, but as for crows, they are just a nuisance out here, trying to empty garbage bins & such. Your Graylag geese are similar to our Cape Barren geese, though not quite as large or as much grey. During the motor bike GP this year on Phillip Island, they even interrupted one of the races by straying onto the track. Have a lovely Christmas, take care & hugs.
ReplyDeleteWe have crows in the high trees over the hedge in the back of the school grounds, they do caw an cackle a lot but very rarely come down on the garden, their fellow Corvids the magpies come down onto the garden quite a bit. Hope you too have a lovely Christmas:)
DeleteDespite the cold and gloom, the wildlife seems to be out in force and doing well. The robins are just the right bird for Christmas, aren't they. It's lovely to see them again at home as they disappeared for a while. You were lucky to get your walk done before they closed and the weather got worse. 😊
ReplyDeleteLots of birds in the garden at the moment. Love robins at Christmas, that little flash of red. Yes, we were ending our walk and had commented how quiet it was:) There were lots of waterbirds on the half frozen lake:)
DeleteIt looks a lovely walk and it is always good to get out especially with the camera. Good to see the birds too. We had so many different species feeding in the garden when it was so cold. I hope you are over your cold. Take care.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely walk. The birds have returned to the garden, around ten long-tailed tits each day again as well as loads of goldfinches. Starlings back too. Yes, cold disappeared thank you and bp on the way to being sorted (I hope) still have raging tinnitus though, the hissing in my ears drives me mad at times, being outside in nature helps. Take care:)
DeleteIt must have been such a joy to see so many birds Rosie. The Greylags look like very healthy, well fed birds! :)
ReplyDeleteI like your new photos, Simone. It was lovely to see so many birds and healthy too:)
Delete