Shard End Lake.

First visit to Shard End Lake in over six months were it was very dull and overcast but fortunately there was no sign of the constant rain we've had over the last two days. Talking of the rain I also had a walk along the River Cole up to Babbs Mill without actually going around the lake there, where the River Cole was as full as I've ever seen it and was flowing at an amazing rate and apparently and obviously the water was much higher yesterday, you could see where the river was a good twelve foot wider yesterday, which had unfortunately washed all the litter, including many plastic water bottles to the waters edge, of which the poor Mallards had to negotiate and avoid.

Talking of litter, today's highlight was seeing a Kingfisher fly onto one of the islands at Shard End Lake, where I was greeted with the sorry sight of lots of fisherman's discarded crap, including floats, fishing line and hooks including many terrible looking dual hooks, there was at least thirty hanging from the trees and bushes on an island that is only about fifteen square feet, it really was a disgusting and sad sight which certainly spoiled my sighting of the Kingfisher. As in many walks of life it's always the minority that let the majority down, because I have no problem with Angling, it's just the chavs with their £5 sticks from Aldi who really piss me off because they always leave discarded Angling paraphernalia and litter behind, including the obligatory lager and cider cans, I really do hate these people with a passion, it's because of these so called 'people' that two of this years Cygnets at Pype Hayes fishing pool have died, one was dead in the water and the other had to be put down due to the lead poisoning they both had suffered, those responsible should hang their heads in shame.

Anyway back to the birding before my blood pressure goes through the roof, birds seen today were Kestrel, Kingfisher, Greenfinch, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Starling, Jay, Song Thrush, Redwing, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Canada Goose.

It was nice to see a few different flocks of birds on today's excursion including c.50 Redwing, c.80 Starling and c.25 Collared Dove, where on the other hand it was nice to see a lone Kingfisher, Mute Swan, Greenfinch, Pied Wagtail and a male Goosander. There was clearly a lack of songbirds, but the high winds may have had something to do with that.

I also found what I'm pretty sure is an old Canada Goose egg at the bottom of a tree by the waters edge whilst taking some Funghi photos, strange thing to come across in the latter half of November, needless to say it's going in my collection of numerous Nature knick knacks.