RHS Wisley and a birdy surprise

It's cold.... which I don't mind if it's sunny but it's not that either! I'm wondering if Winter is ever going to release its icy hold and let Spring put a toe through the door...

I went to RHS Wisley - haven't been there since about last November. I decided to start by going through the Pinetum to see if I could spot the Kingfisher - erm, erm.... no!!

I like it through the Pinetum - there's not usually many people about.

I wandered through with the River Wey on my left. As I neared the Wildlife Preservation area this beauty was hopping about looking for worms..

I stood looking at the wildlife area considering how to go about getting permission to venture in when I spotted, what I thought was a rather odd looking Moorhen... Got the Binocs up to discover, much to my surprise and delight that it was a....

Water Rail!! Never seen one of those here before and never expected to, come to that!

(Inserts here the photographic qualification of "record shots; poor light and subject a long way off")

The Wildlife area needs special permission to be entered but.... around the other side up on the hill overlooking it, Wisley are building a Bird Hide!! A first. It's due to open in Spring but looking at the area that seems to me, to be a bit further off completion than that; so evidence of the hide yet. Watch this space....

Well that was good!! I seem to be having a Water Rail time at the moment.

The Mallards were looking rather colourful as the light improved a little..

I walked up through the herbacious borders - looking as though they were resting. Robins seemed to be everywhere and singing their little hearts out!!

Further round, the crocuses were abundant and colourful.

Various other Spring plants were standing up to be counted..

This squirrel perched up on the tree was trying to hide from the camera..

Witch-hazel in many colours gleamed through the murk of the day..

as did the Lichen.

The Hellorbores sang out as the sun peeped out from behind a cloud

In the Glasshouse, this Banana Plant was bearing fruit.

A climbing plant (Wysteria?) was looking woody whilst waiting for the buds to appear..

A gnarled tree trunk in the Pinetum

And after a quick snack a lunch time, a walk back past the gravel borders where Crocus and Dwarf Iris leant some blue to the day where the sky was sadly lacking it!

Not a bad stroll; but not the same without being able to say hello to Frank and David.