vodex
Friday 11th January 2008, 00:39
Sunday 6th January 2008
On the way to Lee Valley Park I usually stop off at Connaught Water which is one of the lakes in Epping Forest, but there was so many cars in the car park that it put me off. On previous visits to the lake I have seen a redcrested pochard amongst the many coots. At the far end of the lake there were 5 mandarins. Does anybody know the history of these birds? When I reached the Lee Valley Park I walked around 78 acres lake. Lots of mute swans as well as cyclists and dog walkers! It was a lovely winters day that is why everyone was out! Other geese seen were Canadas and a few greylags, as well as pochards and lots of tufties, one male shoveller with 2 females. Once inside the bitten hide which was pretty busy I just saw lots of gulls and cormarants. Outside to the right of the hide there was a muntjac deer which was well hidden. Walked along the river and saw a little grebe and a gc grebe and saw some jackdaws fly over, also wood pigeons. A g.s. woodpecker kept flying to and fro from the trees which gave me a great view of it. I could also hear quite a few green wood peckers, 2 black swans at Hooks Marsh. By then the light was fading but I saw a kestral swoop down and take a small rat. On the way home I saw 2 more deer on the Upshire Road that cuts through the forest.
On the way to Lee Valley Park I usually stop off at Connaught Water which is one of the lakes in Epping Forest, but there was so many cars in the car park that it put me off. On previous visits to the lake I have seen a redcrested pochard amongst the many coots. At the far end of the lake there were 5 mandarins. Does anybody know the history of these birds? When I reached the Lee Valley Park I walked around 78 acres lake. Lots of mute swans as well as cyclists and dog walkers! It was a lovely winters day that is why everyone was out! Other geese seen were Canadas and a few greylags, as well as pochards and lots of tufties, one male shoveller with 2 females. Once inside the bitten hide which was pretty busy I just saw lots of gulls and cormarants. Outside to the right of the hide there was a muntjac deer which was well hidden. Walked along the river and saw a little grebe and a gc grebe and saw some jackdaws fly over, also wood pigeons. A g.s. woodpecker kept flying to and fro from the trees which gave me a great view of it. I could also hear quite a few green wood peckers, 2 black swans at Hooks Marsh. By then the light was fading but I saw a kestral swoop down and take a small rat. On the way home I saw 2 more deer on the Upshire Road that cuts through the forest.