Marsh Frogs? and other things..

Yesterday was absolutely wonderful in terms of weather, warm and sunny - the best weather day of the year so far :D I headed off to Barnes (London Wetland Centre) to see what was about.

Sand Martins have started nesting; 3 Redshank were chasing each other about. A Little Ringed Plover was out on the scrape. Common Terns had been seen but not by me. Cetti's and Sedge Warblers - warbled and Blackcaps seemed to be everywhere. Still haven't managed to photograph a Cetti's - one day perhaps.

What I did see, and hear, were Marsh Frogs.

But this was is very green. Is this still a Marsh Frog?



There's a hybrid Goose which is a cross between a Canada and Greylag Goose - and very odd it looks too. And on this occasion it also looked quite ferocious as it chased off a Canada Goose.

It has rather a "bald" look.

The pair of Great Crested Grebes were doing nothing but sleeping today. Still no eggs laid and there's a school of thought that suggest the varying height of the water may be having an adverse affect on the nest.

I wondered where this Greylag was heading off to..

It seemed to want a meal of reeds!

One of many Speckled Woods but looking a bit battle scarred.

A Brimstone..


And today is Sunday - and it rained this morning. Although it did liven up the garden somewhat. There's more colour at this time of the year than any other season.

And later on I had some shopping to do. I decided to take my new camera into Kingston-upon-Thames...

This is the Ancient Market place which has some interesting buildings

The Market Hall. During the week there are many market stalls. It used to be all fruit and veg but now it's a mish-mash of everything it seems! (Closed on a Sunday)

Just off the market place, you can take various short routes through the buildings to reach the River Thames. This alleyway sandwiched between the shops is just one of them.

(if you've noticed the "Borders" sign. Regretfully this is one of the bookshops that became victim of the recession - it also had Woolworths as a neighbour)

You can walk a little further, and go down the pathway along side the River Mole which runs into the Thames.

This is Clattern Bridge

and you can read about it here..

Having gone down the steps and turned around to look back, you can see the arches referred to in the notice above.

Walking further away towards the Thames and looking back at the Clattern Bridge, the newer developments on the riverside come into view.
Br

Turning around to face where the two rivers meet, some of the multitude of Mute Swans. I gave up counting after 70!!

Coming out now into the River Thames and this is a bit of the view with Kingston Bridge on the right.

I became mindful that I was paying to park so called it a day and headed off to pay my dues for the car park..... next time I'll get the bus (but there's only 1 per hour!) Nonetheless it was good to be out now the rain had stopped and the sun shone fitfully.