Beside the Towpath.

Last Friday morning found me treading the towpath alongside the River Wey Navigation. 

As usual  I started from the iron bridge but decided on this occasion to head downstream initially enjoying the shade afforded by the waterside trees as far as the lock with just the sound of water seeping through the upstream gates and bubbling onto the murky depths below. 

After crossing the lock my attention was immediately drawn towards an area of brambles, grasses and wild flowers, including Hemp-agrimony and Tansy on which a few butterflies were enjoying the sunshine and nectar.

Peacock and Gatekeeper.

Other species included Meadow Brown, a Comma and Large Skipper.

All along the towpath the waterside plants and grasses were often taller than me thereby restricting any decent views of the water but what did surprise me was the number of male Banded Demoiselles that gracefully fluttered up from the vegetation as I passed by. Throughout just a mile stretch of this waterway I estimated that there must have been over a hundred males but I only spotted one or two females hiding amongst the plants.

A male Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) showing off its iridescent colours; the metallic blue-green body with its very distinctive blue-black wing band. [I will show you some more images in a future post].

With the sun beating down I was very glad to find some more shade beneath another bridge.

Mrs Mallard drifted silently past me.

I sat here for some time enjoying just the sound of water tumbling over the weir on the far side of the river interrupted very occasionally by the mewing call of Common Buzzards floating high above their nearby woodland habitat.  FAB.

Linking to Nature Notes.

Waterside Wander.

 

A mid morning stroll at Riverside Country Park on another very breezy day started with a scan across the water meadows but apart from Grey Herons, Canada and Egyptian Geese feeding in the distance there appeared to be very little other avian activity apart from a Grey Wagtail calling on the other side of the weir.

   A male Mallard emerged from the waterside vegetation and decided to swim away! 

A little further along the towpath a Cormorant rested high above the water. I then took the pathway towards the main lake and noted that a pair of Common Terns had recently returned to the raft and will hopefully breed unmolested by the Canada Geese. A Reed Warbler was perched deep within a willow, constantly emitting its rhythmic song with nearby Blackcap, Wren and Chiffchaff also calling from their hiding places.

Two families of Canada Geese had obviously been out of the water, feeding alongside the path, but the bank-side low retaining fence was a barrier to their route back onto the lake. Fortunately one of the adults realised that there was a gap (out of view in this picture) and they all eventually made it to the other side.

 

 A nearby Coot also watched all the antics but was obviously unimpressed.

The next part of my route took me away from the lake across the adjoining wet marsh onto the new boardwalk which was erected over the winter months by the local Council. I am told that the original estimate was £60 - £80,000 but actually the final cost was three times this figure! A number of local residents and wildlife watchers that I met questioned the validity of the eventual cost and whether it needed to be so elaborate ..... only time will tell.

It has taken just over three years for the old 'simple' boardwalk to be replaced and now includes a number of seating areas and a viewing screen overlooking a small pool within the damp wooded area. 

Whilst this hide or viewing screen has been expertly constructed with seating and murals depicting the local wildlife ... the portholes, from my point of view, are not very friendly, being far too small and provide a very restricted view. Having said this on the three occasions I have visited recently there hasn't been any wildlife to watch on the other side of this barrier!

I have mentioned this before in recent post but one certain reason for the apparent lack of avian activity is, in my opinion, down to the lack of insects due to the lower temperatures. 

My footsteps onwards across the snaking boardwalk eventually led me to the Wey Navigation Lock where I sat in front of the house watching a female Blackcap and Chaffinch imitating a flycatcher's method of catching  flies over the water surface with a few Swifts circling overhead. Below the lock and close to the water outflow I spotted a couple of juvenile Grey Wagtails patiently waiting for the parents to bring them food. They were well hidden by the leafy overhanging branches so I waited hoping that an adult might appear and eventually one stopped reasonably close by.

 Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

As I had been out for over two hours and a visitor was expected it was time to head for home via the towpath serenaded by numerous Blackcaps singing from their hidden perches. FAB.

Linking to WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

Waterside Wander.

 Last week saw me taking a late morning stroll along the Wey Navigation towpath beside Stoke Meadows.

During a similar stroll during May I was fortunate to see a few juvenile Wagtails including a Grey Wagtail being fed by its parents amongst the overhanging vegetation on the far bank but two months later  ....

 ... it is July and things are much quieter with very little activity around the lock. Wren and Blackcap called from within the woodland fringes and I had brief views of the vibrant coloured Demoiselles flitting over the waterside vegetation but they all failed to stop for a photo call.

A Black-headed Gull balances in the breeze before continuing its circuit around the main lake.

One of the Common Terns that has been using the raft on the lake will now be busily feeding up before commencing its long journey southwards to somewhere in Africa for the winter and hopefully return next year.

Other wildlife seen included Mallard, Egyptian Goose, Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Robin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit and an overflying Grey Heron while the bees collected pollen from the brambles.

A few butterflies were seen including Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Comma .... I have kept back a few pics for a future post.

As I made my way back to the car a barge puttered by .... the pilot totally ignorant of my presence!   FAB.

Riverside Stroll.

My leisurely stroll today started from the 'Iron Bridge' near Bowyers Lock on the Wey Navigation where a pair of Grey Wagtails (year list now 100) were very active over on the other bank so distant (record) shot only. A male Mallard drifted away from the bank as he sensed my presence. A scan over the water meadows produced lots of Canada Geese, Black-headed Gulls (100+), Magpie, Carrion Crow, a charm of Goldfinches (20), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove and a Sparrowhawk. As I moved on the clouds blotted out the sun and the temperature dropped considerably.

Further along the towpath I met a young Mute Swan who as usual wanted its portrait taken ... well I couldn't deny it a moment of fame now could I? All around me species such as Robin, Wren, Chaffinch, Long-tailed, Great and Blue Tits were calling from various directions while my ears locked onto an ever increasing volume of twittering and trilling .... I eventually estimated 80+ (Eurasian) Siskin feeding high in the canopy of Alders. A male Kestrel landed, partially hidden from view, about 20 yards away and the Siskins took flight but returned fairly promptly to continue their feast. Great Spotted Woodpecker and Jay were also logged. Moving onwards and scanning over the flooded pasture produced Gadwall (5), Teal (3), Pied Wagtail plus more Mallard and BH Gulls.

At the lake were more Canada Geese, Coot, Tufted Duck (12), Great Crested Grebe (2) and Cormorant(3) plus a fly-by Green Woodpecker. On my return journey along the tow path I added a single Little Grebe plus a Common Buzzard way up high to the north. The sun re-emerged on several ocaccasions and lit up a patch of Snowdrops.   FAB.

A Full Backpack Day.

To satisfy the curiosity of a number of my readers here are images of the new backpack that was fully loaded in readiness for a day out with Graham yesterday who kindly acted as taxi driver and collected me at 6.45 am. 

Our first port of call was Epsom Ponds where we managed to spot a female Mandarin Duck hiding amoungst the waterside vegetation. Also present were Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Grey Heron plus Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Robin were heard. 

Graham then drove to the Wey Navigation close to the remains of Newark Priory where we followed the towpath towards Walsham Lock producing more Mallards, Mute Swan, a pair of Kestrels hunting over the water meadow, Lapwing, Jackdaws, Starlings, Woodpigeon, Collared Doves, noisy Parakeets, House Martins, Swallows, Blue and Great Tits. a Great-spotted Woodpecker plus a Goldfinch. We also had an interesting conversation with the local farmer who explained that his cattle loved eating the waterside Himalayan Balsam with apparently no side effects. A few Banded Demoiselles were also resting just above the water.

Further along the towpath this barge owner stirred up the water, much to the annoyance of the fishermen, while attemting to move his craft 'Wendy Woo II' away from its overnight mooring. 

We stopped again and chatted to this fisherman who was interested in my camera gear and revealed that he raised butterflies and is releasing Brown Argus at a site very close to where I live. The only flutter we saw was a Speckled Wood plus male Common Blue Damselflies. We crossed over the weir to check around the lock for any Grey Wagtails but there was no sign of them today. While retracing our steps back to the car we picked up the call of a young Common Buzzard and eventually watched it fly to leafless tree but our efforts to get closer for a photo proved unsucessful as it moved further away.

The weather forcast suggested light showers at around 10.00 am so Graham suggested a trip over to Kempton Park Nature Reserve as he has the necessary codes to gain access. This reserve was created in 1995 by Thames Water but I have never visited before so this this would be a new location to explore and it has hides in case the wether turned foul.

As you can see the water levels are very low and much of the old reservoir floor is covered with sphagnum moss. From the first hide we located Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, a single Greenshank, several juvenile Pied Wagtails, Sparrowhawk, Black-headed Gulls, Parakeets flying over and Swallows. On our casual stroll to another hide we watched Common Darters, Meadow Browns and Common Blue butterflies. Bottom right image is a very tatty female Common Blue. Blue and Great Tits were also seen at a feeding station.

While eating our packed lunches in the last hide a young Reynard appeared from amoungst the vevetation and sat at the side of the water intently starring in our direction. After an apprehensive look at the water he eventually crossed to the other side and disappeared only to return and swim back while all the resident Mallard and Coots gathered together, totally unfazed by his presence, to watch him get wet again. After a quick shake down he then decided to run back and forth just like a young teenager letting of steam before disappearing back into the leafy undergrowth.

We also had slightly closer views of the Greenshank feeding together with a Common Sandpiper and one of the Grey Herons and a Mute Swan came close enough for the camera. A number of Green Woodpeckers were also spied around the reserve. Another enjoyable day out in good company...thanks Graham.   FAB.

Riverside Colours

We had a very lazy weekend so here are a few images from our walk alongside the Wey Navigation last Friday. Leaving the car at Ripley Green we headed across the meadow to Walsham Lock.

A little activity at the lock as a barge maneuvered its way upstream.

'Colour co-ordinated' checks out the water. 

Colourful barges moored up.

Watery reflections..I hope it's the right way up!

At least the riverside foliage provided some much needed shade from the midday sun.

A Large Red Damselfly.

Not quite the shot I wanted but this pair of Banded Demoiselles just wouldn't sit still!!

Our circular route took us past Ockham Mill where we took a brief rest eyeing up the very expensive waterside properties and .....

....the local 'postie' delivering the mail on his trusty steed!

Any guesses as to the predominant colour throughout this post...certainly not planned.   FAB.

Wey Navigation Views.

A few views from a recent walk alongside the Wey Navigation starting from Walsham Lock.

Many of the old barges that plied this waterway have been lovingly restored.

Mrs Mallard keeping an eye on all the passers by.   FAB.