A visit to the lake today found the cows grazing where the Canada geese normally rest. Eight Egyptian geese were being very noisy and argumentative on the lake with the resident Tufted duck trying to keep out of their way.

Egyptian Geese

The kingfishers were in their normal patch and were joined overhead by two red kite and a buzzard. Daisies were abundant in this area today, with new growth nettles showing too. A lone cob mute swan was busy preening.

Considering the many robins singing overnight where I live, I was expecting the same at the lake. A robin was marking its territory in nearly every area; I counted nine singing on my walk.

Taking a short detour due the mud I decided to root about for some fungi - I was rewarded with the crystal brain fungus which is fairly common on dead logs, especially in autumn and winter.

Crystal brain fungus

 

Bracket fungus was also fairly widespread still:

 

 

It is still very quiet at the lake, perhaps due to the grazing cows and quite a few fisherman today.



Despite the bright sunshine and little wind, the lake area was quiet today. There was a sharp frost and parts of the lake were frozen:

 

There were a couple of pintail dabbling around with the resident mallards and the kingfishers were busy racing across the lake. Canada geese dominated the area today with a few Egyptian geese both on the lake and at its edges. 

Three red kites were carrying out their acrobatic displays at the far end of the lake. Only a few Siskin were feeding on the alders and a noisy group of Long-Tailed tits were on their way through.

On the river, the cormorants were seeing out the afternoon on their usual tree. Moles had been busy on the towpath with one digging as I passed:

A quiet day at the lake