Pre-Christmas Carsington Catchup

Pre-Christmas Carsington Catchup. 9/12/21.

In lovely morning sunshine Jo and Helen J made an early start to do a bit of birding. They didn’t meet up until they both arrived at the Visitor Centre. Helen had been searching for redpoll and seen flocks of bull finches and Jo had walked from the Sheepwash car park and back creating a bird count of 40 different species. 

Jo bumped into Simon Roddis – ornithologist at Carsington who had seen a female smew and 2 little egrets!! and then Lynn and Tali by the bird hide. We were  so lucky to see a gold crest twittering away and showing off on a branch about 5 metres away. 

Carsington water looked wonderful.

Thank you Lynn for booking the restaurant. 

Her reward was to be first to receive her full English breakfast and was quick to tuck in. Lovely festive top Lynn.

The Gellybabes ready to tuck in…. 

just waiting for Julia to arrive bit later. Charlotte was unable to join us due being tied up with online lessons. Lots of chatting took place, HJ shared stories from her Norfolk trip, Christmas cards were delivered, Pam produced some extra sweet fudge, HJ told us to keep a look out for the Christmas task that’s going out on What’s app soon and reminded us about our charity donations this year.

Julia arrived in time for a cuppa, with her chauffer Bob (who chose to sit at a table on his own). Chatting continued until we were virtually thrown out at 11.55 to make way for the Christmas lunches. Bob was able to take a photo of us altogether outside by the rock.

 Time to pay for the car parking!! - if we can work out how to do it!

Jo went off to look for the red polls and the bull finches as everyone left to go home. She found the redpolls but no bull finches!! Look at what the babes missed – looks like fun!!!

Elfie!

Mischievous elves were everywhere.

Stealthy squirrel.

Bird list:

 Robin, Crow, dunnock, greenfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch, bull finch, great tit, bluetit, long tailed tit, coal tit, mallard, pochard, teal, tufted duck, mute swan, grey heron, lapwing, great crested grebe, little grebe, blackbird, coot, moorhen, Canada goose, greylag goose, pheasant, gold crest, house sparrow, wood pigeon, red poll, siskin, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, buzzard, red shank, redwing, starling, field fare, thrush, magpie, cormorant, jackdaw. 42 

- didn’t see the smew or the little egrets that Simon Roddis had seen.