Trip reports
Dinton Pastures - by Geoff Allan
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
I arrived at just before 10.00 am in the morning, wondering how many would turn up this time. Brian turned up a few minutes later and we then waited till about 10.20 am and there was still just the two of us. Still, if I have to go with just one other, then Brian is one of the people I would choose. We set off from the car park in a westerly direction towards White Swan Lake and took the path between White and Black Swan lakes. Black Swan Lake gave us large numbers of Canada geese but smaller numbers of mallard, tufted duck, great crested grebe and mute swan. There was also a single grey heron on one of the islands. The wooded areas at the side of the lake gave us a tit flock containing blue, great and long-tailed and there was also a treecreeper flying with them. We then followed the short track to Sandford Lake which was very quiet with just a few coot and tufted duck. It was here that we picked up our first red kite. I love these birds. At this point two of my favourite people turned up, Kath and Chris Brading who had been held up in traffic. The four of us then moved off to Lavell's Lake but before we reached it we heard the mew of a common buzzard which was to be the first of three we saw that day. Before we went into the hide our attention was drawn to a number of rooks mobbing three red kites. In the hide which had a few people already in it, we settled down, scanned around and found teal, gadwall and a single common snipe. Anyone who has visited Dinton Pastures and Lavell's Lake will be wondering how so many people managed to get in the hide. Well it is now brand new, large and cosy and allows good views of the lake. Well done the management of Dinton Pastures. At the feeding station that is now part of the new hide we saw blue and great tit, greenfinch and chaffinch. The walk was due to finish at 1.00 am which is when Chris and Kath had to leave and left Brian and myself staying for a spot of lunch after which we headed back to the car park. On Black Swan Lake by the feeding area we found our last bird of the day a female pintail. A total of 36 species for the day and jolly good company. Just what I like.
Geoff A