Wednesday, 10 February 2021

COATE WATER WINTER WALK

 



I've not visited Coate Water Country park for a while, though it lies in the Borough of Swindon. However, being a sunny, but still bitterly cold day, I decided to drive over there after lunch today. The carpark was not too busy, being a weekday but there seemed quite a few families around, particularly near the cafe where flocks of feral pigeons congregate along with swans, ducks and gulls, hoping for  food from visitors, which they continually seem to get! 

I took the path to the west of the large lake, past the island and pitch and putt course, through an avenue of trees down to  Broome Manor Lane. The resident black swan  seemed to be missing although it was seen a few days ago and apart from some small groups of canada geese and more gulls there wasn't a lot to see. However, turning left onto the footpath, and back into the wooded area, I came  to  a bird feeding area with a bird table and a couple of benches. It had obviously been tidied up  over recent months and now was a pleasant area to sit and watch. On arrival a greater spotted woodpecker was on the  coconut feeder but flew off and didn't return. Members of the tit family were visiting regularly (apart from coal tit); blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit and two marsh tits. Also a couple of nuthatches, who were the only species that seemed to stay long enough to get a photo, the others were in and out   very quickly. A large nearby fallen tree trunk had been 'baited' with seed and during my visit a group of children came along and emptied small bags of birdfood at different spot on the log.  Someone  else also came past and, seeing my camera and binoculars, informed me that recently some siskins had been feeding in that area, on the ground,  but although I looked out for them, there were none seen. After watching for some time, it seemed to be getting colder so I got up and walked the remaining distance back to the car. I noticed a single pochard amongst the gulls and swans ( new for year) and searched for any common gulls but   couldn't see one of those today. 

robin

blue tit on coconut



nuthatch





great tit

nuthatch (again)




marsh tit

dunnock



 bird feeding area

on the right there was a fallen trunk, which had been baited  with bird seed along the top

going...

...going...

...gone (almost!)

pochard


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