And now the flooding

By last Sunday, a week ago, the snow had all cleared completely, to be replaced by fields turning into water meadows: the result of not only the snow melting but also quite a lot of rain and much milder weather. On visiting the Hanson nature reserve last Sunday afternoon we saw that a larger area of the lakes was still frozen as were the small ponds around the reserve – and some of this ice was quite deep. Near one of the hides most of the lake was frozen whilst the birds were a little closer (but not very) to the second hide. There were pochard, wigeon, tufted ducks, mallard and gadwall (and possibly other ducks); swans; lapwings. And many nosiy coots. But no cormorants, herons or egrets.

Though we stayed late and hoped to see owls as the light faded we saw neither barn owls or short eared owls. However, on an early morning walk to the bus just before 7 last Tuesday (19th) I heard our local tawny owl. Good to know that he/she? survived the cold. I must look it up – it’s the one that does the woo-ooo.

Am also keeping an eye on the feeders in the garden. These have been in place two weeks now and I have not seen anything come to them yet, though my husband tells me a robin has found the fat ball. But I’m told it takes at least a month for birds to get used to them, so we will see. There is a nut and seed feeder in the back that is empty so will see if refilling that helps – the current nut and seed feeder is in the front garden in a rather busy area, near the road – but there are no trees to hang it on further away from the road.