Babbs Mill Nature Reserve, Kingshurst.

Before I went to Babbs Mill I stopped off at Ward End Park to see if the Muscovy Ducks were there but sadly they wasn't and being as they're easy to spot I think that's the last we've seen of them at this venue, which is shame. Then it was off to Babbs Mill for a walk around the lake, a stretch of the River Cole and a walk around the Yorks Wood. Whilst in Yorks Wood, I was moving a rather large slug off the path into a much a safer place underneath a log pile when all of a sudden three small frogs jumped onto the logs, they're very lucky I didn't tread on them, two promptly disappeared into the log pile while the third one stayed around so I could take a few photos, I don't often see frogs, but if I'm bound to see any it will actually be in these woods or around Kingshurst Lake. On the opposite side of the woods I found the Carrion Crow in the ninth picture looking rather sorry for itself, I knew there was something wrong with it because as I approached it, it didn't move at all so I tried to pick it up when it hopped off under a bush, there did appear to be something wrong with it's foot but all the same it might have been in shock for whatever reason, hopefully it will be fine anyway so it can join up with the other many Carrion Crow at this site. Birds spotted today were, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Song Thrush, Reed Bunting, Blackcap (male), Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Wren, Robin, House Sparrow, Starling, House Martin, Swift, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Canada Goose, Domestic Goose, as well as the following chicks/juveniles, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Cygnet (7), Great Crested Grebe (3), Duckling (5), Coot (2), Domestic Geese (6) and the following nesting waterfowl, Great Crested Grebe (1) and Coot (2). Thankfully, around the lake, the woods and along the River Cole is a real stranglehold for both the ever declining House Sparrow and Starling, so obliviously it's always great to see plenty of them here but today was even more special being as there was plenty of both House Sparrow and Starling juveniles around, including a young House Sparrow who couldn't get enough of the bird seed I'd left under one of the bushes they frequent around the lake. Equally as pleasing was seeing six Domestic Geese chicks, being as the twenty or so adults only had one chick last year and even that didn't make it to adulthood which was a real shame as the harsh winter of 2010 decimated their numbers, every time you made a visit you found a new Goose carcass, the foxes must have had a great time that year being able to walk to the island while the lake was frozen solid. All in all a good day was had even though it was trying very hard to rain, which thankfully held off until I was leaving, hopefully I'm off to Middleton Lakes on Saturday where, all being well, the ever so friendly Robin will be waiting. At least people power does work sometimes, after public outcry the planned killing of Buzzards and destruction of their nests will now not go ahead, pity the same can't be said for the HS2 High Speed Rail Link, but then again there's too much money in that. Today is also Fudge's fifteenth birthday, so plenty of tuna coming her way then.