Babbs Mill Nature Reserve, Kingshurst.

Strange day today attempting to get some birding done, had some things to do, so we didn't arrive at Babbs Mill until 9:30 a.m., had a cup of coffee and fruit loaf and we set off even though the sky was getting blacker by the second (as you can tell by the photos) but you can't let that put you off can you ? Then it started to rain lightly but within a minute it was raining something like biblical proportions, if you think that's an exaggeration then check the followings reports about it here and here But we still decided to walk around the lake anyway, which was definitely a mistake, we got absolutely soaked through, it was that bad you could hardly see where you was going, in fact when we eventually got back to the car and got inside the rain was belting down like something I'd never seen before and the wind was blowing up a hectic storm and there was thunder and lighting to contend with as well. If that wasn't bad enough the car nearly got stuck in a flooded road, we got out of that and ended up down a cul de sac, so after some deliberation and help from some local youths we turned around and backtracked along the pavement and eventually headed home, the trials and tribulations of birding ! So unfortunately today the birds spotted were confined to the ones seen during the coffee break from the car, which were, House Sparrow, Starling, Swift, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Domestic Goose, Canada Goose, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard and the following chicks, Cygnet (7), Domestic Goose (1), Great Crested Grebe (1) and Coot (1). It was great to see the Greylag Geese still here, because you don't see them very often at Babbs Mill, hopefully taking up residence. I may end up going back to Babbs Mill very soon to see how the young ones are doing, whatever happens it can't be as bad as today. The Blackbird fledglings have finally arrived from my neighbours nest in the laurel bush, two fine looking birds they are and they seem to like my garden a lot, which isn't hard because apart from the laurel, next doors garden is like a barren wasteland where mine is a haven for wildlife, the Blackbirds even get fresh apples, raisins and sultanas all through the year. The House Sparrow, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Robin juveniles are still visiting the garden throughout the day as well. Here's the view of the back garden from my bedroom window, a small oasis for all my local birds and wildlife.