A spring-like birding day in January!

The winds eased today - the QE2 Bridge was open again; the M25 ran easily; the sun shone; the sky was blue...... :D

I arrived at Hatfield Forest where geese were flying.. ..

plus a male Mallard and 'lagging along behind' a Greylag Goose

Most amazingly there were 4 Great Crested Grebes; two of which were an obvious pair and had built a nest - and yes - it's January 6th!!! There was a great deal of calling between the two and some head "shaking".. at one point I thought there was going to be a 'weed dance' but it never really got started.

A Grey Heron peered into the depths hoping for a meal no doubt.

I wonder who or what lives here?

From there a visit to Rye Meads - a Green Sandpiper being the only bird of note today

It was getting late in the afternoon and the low angle of the sun gave some great and soft light on these two Teal

Eventually the Sandpiper came a little closer as the light got better

Lovely soft light

and the beginnings of sunset...

with a very visible moon - not a full moon yet... that will be on 9 January.

A lovely day out - and lunch was a pork burger with cheese and bacon with a coffee eaten whilst sitting on a bench overlooking the lake at Hatfield Forest ... most enjoyable :D