As I am accustomed to do on most days I administered my dose of mindfulness, getting out and about in the natural world and taking a stroll round Farmoor Reservoir with my good friends Amanda, Dave and Phil. I find days like this are just as valuable and rewarding as dashing off to distant parts to see a rare bird. Each has its own benefit and merit but for the forseeable future Farmoor will suffice, not that one can contemplate the latter until this latest lockdown is over, even if one wanted to.
This morning the reservoir was proving popular with the general public as the early rain had gone and now there was plenty of sunshine but a brisk and chilly southwest wind ensured that warm clothing was a necessity. The Great Northern Diver was still in its favoured area of water off the eastern bank of Farmoor Two, the larger reservoir basin, but stoically remained at some distance from the bank and never looked like venturing closer.It was however good to see that it has suffered no ill effects from its entanglement in the fishing line of a pike fisherman. Something which surely should have been avoidable if the fisherman had been more diligent.
Amanda and Dave arrived and I joined them for a warming tea at the cafe and, as we sat, the regular trio of Little Grebes ventured out onto the open water in the tiny sheltered marina.They like it here as there are pontoons and small boats for them to hide around and when there is little disturbance they become bold and venture out to dive and fish in the shallow water. In their winter plumage they are various shades of unremarkable brown and can easily be overlooked being unexceptional and small. As autumn progresses into winter they have become more used to the large numbers of people passing by or stopping at the cafe and now seem almost fearless. Long may it last.
Today we took a different route on our stroll around the reservoir, heading along the less populated eastern bank of Farmoor Two and then along the southern bank where it was sheltered from the southwest wind. Coots, Tufted Ducks and Great crested Grebes were also taking advantage of the shelter as the water was calmer and allowed the grebes to tuck their bills into the side of their breast and drowse the morning away.There is something very soothing watching them all tucked up and snug as they float placidly on the water but always with one eye open, just in case.
We reached the western bank and dropped down from the reservoir, heading for the currently closed Shrike Meadow Hide, there to lean on a gate and watch a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers feeding on the last of the peanuts in a feeder hung from a lone alder tree that is part of Thames Water's tiny Shrike Meadow Reserve. Taking the path alongside the boundary hedge, Goldfinches and Chaffinches flew overhead as we came to the water pumping station by the Thames Path. A small bird zipped around in a huge willow, the tree now just bare branches and twigs, having finally been stripped of its last leaves by the wind and rain of recent days. Constantly active the bird stopped briefly to reveal itself as a Common Chiffchaff. It is getting a bit late for migrating so the the tiny warbler is probably going to spend the winter here as we saw possibly this same bird a few days ago in this general area. A little further on we stopped near another alder tree and, after some prolonged scrutiny, found two Siskins feeding in the tree with half a dozen Goldfinches. It was far from an easy task to discern them as they were adept at using the bunched leaves and cones to hide themselves away.
Two Bullfinches duetted to each other, their plaintive piping keeping them in touch as they nibbled buds in a willow. We saw one, the male, resplendent in rose pink, black and grey but could not locate the other. We returned to the reservoir via the gate at the Pinkhill Reserve and two nervous Redwings fed on ivy berries with Blackbirds and a Song Thrush as we took the path back to the causeway.
Looking up at a small hawthorn just behind us, to my amazement I found a male Common Kestrel had perched on a thin, red berried twig of the hawthorn. It was bold enough to sit there, very close to us and despite our wrapt and close attention, seemed more interested in something beyond us in the hedgerow. Finally it flew.
Back on the causeway the wind had increased markedly causing the Tufted Ducks to shelter in the lee of the causeway with their scarcer cousin, a female Greater Scaup, amongst their midst as it usually is.The scaup had attracted a few photographers who crouched on the causeway waiting for it to awake. As usual the scaup was fast asleep but finally deigned to raise its head briefly to reveal the diagnostic white blaze around the base of its bill.
Back at the cafe we sat, as we always do after our walk, with another coffee or tea but the wind was now fierce, blowing hard and strong into our faces and it was no time to tarry, so with goodbyes and a promise to meet next Wednesday, weather permitting, we left Farmoor for others to enjoy..
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