There were dozens of snails on the move today along the grassy towpath. The brown lipped snails:

And white lipped snails too:

The Canada Geese were everywhere too and seemed to have made nests just by plonking themselves down and deciding that would do. Some nests were very exposed. This does give the advantage of the female having unobstructed views all around her from the nest, but some had already been the victim of predators:

 

 

The nests were not always guarded with the parents feeding on the bank, just coming nearer as I walked past. The nests are made of dry reeds and moss and lined with down and some body feathers. As my chickens go broody, they are left with the whole breast area completely bare from lining the nest which I expect is the case with the Canada's as well. Incubation is about 25-30 days which means there will hopefully be some goslings soon from the first nest found:

The swans were picking off the buds at the water's edge:

And there were five heron around the lake today, the most I have seen on one visit:

 

 

 

The great crested grebe were busy squabbling today with a lot of braying and chasing away of other males:

 

 

There were some preening together but no courtship dances while I was there:

A female reed bunting was poking about the reeds and water's edge perhaps trying to find a suitable nesting area:

And a male pheasant was in the field: