Trip reports

Field trip to Cotswold Water Park

Sunday, 17 May 2009

The sun came out to greet our arrival at the Cotswold water Park. There is a lot of second home development going on in the area but any effect on wildlife is hard to tell. On our walk around the chosen lake we heard and glimpsed cuckoo. A nightingale was singing powerfully and richly in the undergrowth and reed and sedge warblers were heard in the reeds. A small family of long-tailed tits were in the alders and there were many swifts in the air along with large numbers of house martins. Common terns were fishing in the waters and hobbies were seen, one seemingly abortively chasing house martins in the absence of dragon flies. There were however many damselflies in and on the bushes. On the water were a pair of red-crested pochards as well as the common tufteds and coot. As we stopped for lunch a greater spotted woodpecker flew past. As the clouds lowered, the swifts flew lower and lower till they were at eye level as we sat and ate. The rain started as we made our way back to the coach but we had found most of our targets on an enjoyable day out.