Friday 26th.February 2010

The good thing about today was that it didn't rain , but the bad bit was that it was 'blowing a hoolie' for most of the day , and even though the sun was out , the wind had a bitter edge to it . What one of the old chaps I used to go around with would call 'a lazy wind , too lazy to go around you , so it goes through you' . Another bad thing is that my new/second hand lens is playing up , so I have had to go back to the old camera for the time being , hopefully the lens will be sorted quickly .
I had a look around Kelsey Park after lunch , but even with no children and bikes , but still plenty of dogwalkers , there was not much different in what I found . On the end of the island that forms the Heronry , I found this Cormorant that is in almost breeding plumage , with it's white patch on it's leg , and it's head taking on a colourful hue . In the heronry itself , I counted at least 6 birds sitting on nests , several flying to and fro , altogether making a total of about 20 . I had to smile to myself with these birds , standing on the island , under the nests , like fathers waiting outside a maternity unit . One new addition to the scene was an Egyptian Goose on the other smaller island in the lake , the first I have ever seen in the park , and could well be one of the four seen by an angler at Hayes Trout Fishery , as it isn't far between the two sites . At the end of the lake , the water tips over this little waterfall , before reaching the town of Beckenham , where it runs underground and in culverts , before appearing again in a park some miles away . From the other side of the lake , I was able to get another , bad , shot of the Cormorant , but showing the head colouration better . The only half decent shot was that of a snoozing pair of Mallard , right alongside one of the paths .
It would appear that not just the new lens is playing up , as this seems to have taken for ever to put together , so whoever has possession of the noose , pass it on here please .
Hedgelaying tomorrow , finishing off the hedge at Lingfield , might get a few showers , just glad it's not on Sunday !