Chicks everywhere. 26th May 2019

With such a title as that, you can guess that Inert are still concentrating on Chandlers farm. Wednesday's activity was serenely quiet. Only one bulldozer at work on the western half (not that the other bladed vehicles weren't working on the eastern - hidden - half), and a few tipper trucks dropping their loads.

Water was flowing out of the streams from the settlement ponds, but with the Manor farm pump still resolutely off, it appears the water is from Chandlers farm.  Even the gates to the two sites were resolutely closed.

Interestingly, water levels in Cormorant lake (south) appear to have dropped; it has been relatively dry of late. I hope we do not have a return to last year's blistering weather. Apart from run off from surrounding hills (which tends to cease quite quickly after rains) there is no stream feeding Manor farm. This means that during a dry spell, water levels will fall.  At some point, in the near future, Colebrook stream should be plumbed into Manor lake, thus keeping water levels more or less constant - unless we hit drought conditions.

Thus, we turn to the wildlife of the area. Firstly, however, a plug for Moor Green Lakes Group. Volunteer work parties come to a brief halt during the breeding season. However, activities for MGLG continue. Some examples can be found on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pg/MoorGreenLakes/posts/?ref=page_internal

Moving on to wildlife around the area. As you may realise, I tend not to hang around any particular spot for any time; unlike others who can spend hours. Spotting wildlife is even more down to luck. As such, the amount of wildlife (well bird life) I see on Manor farm is quite minimal currently. That is not, to say, that I can't hear lots of it. Rustling of mammals and birds in the undergrowth, bird song galore now accompanied by the demanding peeps of young chicks, and the ever present territorial battle cries of Skylark and Lapwing. Gulls and Terns are always raucous.

We start our slide show with birdlife spotted on Manor farm.

That's it on wildlife from Manor farm.  Told you I didn't see much. I would probably see a lot more if I hung around for more than a couple of minutes.

Attention now turns to Moor Green Lakes. I paid three visits to MGL. The weather was glorious, with almost perfect photographing conditions. I also wanted to see if a lens hood made any difference to my Sigma. The jury is still out, but I will say a qualified yes.

Brace yourself, dear reader, I did manage to stay in one spot for 25 minutes!  The viewing screens next to the hide on Colebrook lake (north). A quite fruitful location for photographing wildlife. We'll kick off, not with birds, but mammals and insects.

Now on to some birdies.  All were on or over Colebrook lake (north)

Wagtail rumble.  A pair of Pied Wagtails had a set to on the Sand bar next to Colebrook hide. It was a real ding-dong battle that went on for a bit of time.

Finally, the regulation ahhh...sweet photos.  Mainly of Canada geese goslings.