Today started with all our common birds singing around every corner. Wrens, Robins, Dunnock, Blackdirds along with Song Thrush and Newly arrived Chiffchaffs.
At our first stop a fine male Goosander swan out from the bank given some very close views as is drifted across the lake.
Moving on down the footpath a Cetti's Warrbler belted out its short but unmistakable call, now is a good time to look for these birds before the undergrowth has to much green on them.
At our next stop both male and female Scaup were found mixed up with a few Tufted Duck also a few Red crested Pochards and Great Crested Grebe.
Moving on through a tree lined area both Green and Great spotted Wodpeckers were heard along with a brief view as they
flew from the tree tops. Here we also heard our first Blackcap singing and found it at the top of a tall tree along with great views of a pair of Treecreppers chasing each other around.
At our next lake we found a group of 14 Goldeneye with several of the males displaying to the females by throwing their heads back and pointing to the sky with their bills.
Several cormorants could be seen roosting in the trees at our next lake with a few birds still fishing on the water, checking the sky a large group of Sand Martins drifted about hunting the many tiny insects out today. Also seen in the tree tops were a mixed group of Redwing and Fieldfare.
Heading for our lunch stop we added Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, Blue,Great and Long tailed Tits to our list.
Deciding to take our lunch at one of the parks hides we had one of those magical experiences that you do not get very often as two Otters played and chashed each other around in the water for a good 15 minutes giving some wonderful views, Wow what a lunch break.
After lunch we visited a different area of the park and checking the lakes found Pochard, Wigeon, Gadwall, Little Egret and a few Buzzards on the wing. We then found a small view point to check out a large quarry area and found an Oystercather sat on its nest along with a Green Sandpiper and 6 Curlew, Several Black headed Gull and Lesser Black backed Gulls were on the water also.
Other birds we found included Rook, Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow Goldfinch, Bullfinch and 4 Stock Dove flew by.
Another great day out in the countryside with undoubtably the highlight watching the Otters playing while having lunch. DT.
Hello Darren
It was a pleasure to meet you on Monday and thank you for showing me the best spots to watch birds and other wildlife in the Cotswold Water Park area. Your local knowledge was invaluable. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Red-crested Pochards (not a bird I see very often), but sitting eating our sandwiches whilst watching a pair of otters 'playing' in the lake in front of us was a real bonus. Clearly the area has so much to offer and Judy and I look forward to visiting it much more frequently in future.
Very best regards
Mike
