Mandarin down at Watermead

I managed to nip down to a flooding Watermead this morning. The new all terrain pushchair seemed to handle the shallow water on the paths surprisingly well. I couldn't get over to King Lear's lake because the key access point near the bridge was flooded by the river. On the lakes over near Birstall I couldn't help but think that the number of birds was a lot lower than normal. The cold weather must have moved them on somewhere. Even though the park was in the grip of thaw the lakes were still covered in a skim of ice. It was entertaining to watch the Moorhens and Coots slipping on it!

Just when I was considering coming back I spotted some bird watchers photographing something I had walked past. So I went back to see what they had found.

Deep in the undergrowth that overhung the lake I could see the distinctive red and green of a Mandarin Duck. Its also the first one I have ever seen. I tried to find a vantage point that allowed me to film it, but the near ground was always full of twigs and sticks. Just when I was about to go it suddenly made a bid for freedom and set sail across the lake allowing me to get some cracking shots!

Mouses near my houses!

OK, no reason to shriek in terror or run for the hills but whilst the weather has been bad I have spotted some visitors in the garden that under normal circumstances would not be welcome. However since the weather has been so bad I will let them off. This poor little House Mouse was attracted into the garden by the seeds that I had put out for the birds. (All filmed in ultra slow motion)

Vultures

Yes, I know. You don't get vultures in the UK but I have been lucky enough to catch sight of them both in Europe and in America. This first one is one of the rarest birds in the world. In Europe Black Vultures (Aegypius monachus) are only found in the central mountains of Spain. Whilst on conference at El Escorial I climbed the 2000 metre Pico De Abantos in the Sierra Del Guadarrama and spotted this fellow circling overhead. This bird gave me the impression it was hanging around to see if I would fall off and die!

I spotted this Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) whilst hiking in California. Whilst on the upland one would zip by, using the thermals rising off the hillside to gain height.

Some winter birds

I've spotted a few interesting things recently. The cold weather seems to have emboldened many animals.

I spotted this small flock of Siskin (Carduelis spinus) at Cromford Canal in Derbyshire just after Christmas. First of this species I have ever seen. With all the big lakes frozen at Watermead the rarer ducks have been forced onto the canal making them easier to see.

A male (top) and female (bottom) Goosander (Mergus merganser) in the canal. A drake Teal (Anas crecca) in its lovelly winter colours.

And this Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) is the first I've seen down at Watermead.

Slightly further afield I spotted this Red Kite (Milvus milvus) at Eyebrook Reservoir over in Rutland.

Pintail at Watermead

Trust me to have the wrong camera at the wrong time. Today down at Watermead we spotted a pair of Pintail (Anas acuta) and I didn't have a good camera on me. The best I could do was with my family Compaq. Still its the first of this species I have seen and so was a welcome sight. At the weekend I was able to go to Rutland water and take advantage of the fact that none of the animals were camouflaged any more to get some great shots in slow motion.

And also, not for the first time but certainly in the greatest number I have ever seen (17! Flaming eck!), I bring you Egyptian Geese (Alopochen aegyptiacus)!

Another nice day down with the ducks.

Ahhhhh! Look what I found down at Watermead. A Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) busy feeding on all the bread that has been thrown down for the swans. You could look at this way, these rats are clearing up after us. Who are the disgusting species really?

In another lake this Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) looked resplendent in his short no-nonsense winter plumage.

Another winter visitor is the Shoveler (Anas clypeata). Most of the time these are quite shy but can sometimes be caught by surprise.

Gadwalls at Watermead

New species (for me) down at Watermead. That must be about 102 birds now, but I am actively recounting just to be sure. The Gadwall (Anas Strepera). I suspect that I have seen these before but have failed to recognise that they were not female mallards. I only noticed these were something else when I noticed a male and female together. Now very few Gadwalls actually breed in the UK so it is most likely these are just wintering here.