I finally managed the trip to Rufford.
The car journey was only the first step, the hundred yards of varied slopes between the car park and the lake was more of a problem.
It was worth it to sit in the sun and watch a pair of Moorhens struggling to build a nest with unsuitably large twigs. (It wasn’t so much the struggle as the persistence that made the watching worthwhile).
Things are very different from our last visit, with fewer birds, more sun and a lack of seating space. Where the winter visitors (the human ones, not the birds) tend to walk round the lake it seems that the summer visitors, who are generally older than the winter ones, like to sit. It was very pleasant to sit out in the sun, and I enjoyed it after all the time I’ve spent indoors recently. My only reservation is that sitting in the sun with a group of octogenarians is a clearer vision of my future than I want.
As soon as I’m out of hospital I’m going to start doing that list of things that’s been at the back of my mind for years.
Fortunately there’s no skydiving or mountain climbing involved.
I also love the photo of the moorhen with the big stick! Glad you got out to Rufford. I enjoyed the photos from your day.
It was nice to see something worth photographing. 🙂
I am disappointed about the sky diving.
If you would like to throw yourself out of an aeroplane I am prepared to experience the thrill vicariously. 🙂
That picture is a great metaphor for your struggle, Quercus
🙂 Yes, I can identify with it, now you come to mention it.
Another way of looking at Coots and Moorhens is that, supposedly, we share 88% of their DNA.
🙂 In my case I’ve definitely got more in common with a Moorhen than a Nobel prize winner.
I’ve never seen a waterbird carrying a stick like a dog. Goodness, though I have seen nests (osprey) with sticks that size in them. Sounds like a fun day, even if your company were in their dotage.
Yes, it was good to get ot. I couldn’t believe the size of the sticks they were using.
I hope you are able to start ticking things off your list very soon. I like the photo of the moorhen carrying the large stick!
They seemed to be cruising round picking up any stick, regardless of size. I did try filming them trying to bend the sticks in to a nest but it didn’t show up well.
The post they are using was just concealed by the water level during winter – shows what a dry spring we’ve had.
Water levels of all the ponds and rivers here are extremely low. I’ve been loving the sunshine during the past couple of days but I’d also be pleased with a day of rain!
It’s currently raining here, which will be a relief for the garden. 🙂
Good! It might be on its way here then!
I always think of you as being downhill, so you should get some. 🙂
I always consider myself as downhill too 😉
🙂