Grey and deserted Barnes - well - almost!

Well - just when is this weather going to improve.

Please could someone

a) paint the sky blue;
b) create a wonderful orange globe in the sky; and
c) turn the heating on again.

d) help to get rid of my winter blues....

Just a small plea really....

My camera is suffering from neglect and my car is feeling deprived of going anywhere other than local. Today was another "local" as I ignored the skies and headed off to Barnes.

Very quiet in terms of birds; very noisy in terms of children - The Wetland Centre are playing host to small animals this weekend - small enough for children to pet.

Nonetheless there were a few birds of interest about but "few" is the word of today. And (please imagine a rather suspect French accent here;) "I shall say this once, and only once" - the light was dreadful!!

There were two of these Cormorants near to one of the hides. Someone identified them as "European Cormorants". Later on in the day one flew past, so whether there are 2 or 3 remains to be seen..

A water rail was playing with a rather dejected-looking fish not that far from the hide.

These lovely tactile pussy-willow buds made me want to reach out and touch them

A Blue Tit gazed down on me from its lofty perch..

before flying off for adventures new..

Further on a Great Tit perched for a while..

A Gadwall swam lazily around.

And this Great Crested Grebe, in breeding plumage, swam by. A volunteer had witnessed a "weed dance" by a pair of Grebes - so they obviously think it's spring! I must start checking the usual Grebe hotspots during the coming week!

It dived and caught a fish - pity it turned its back on me!

With freezing cold fingers and toes I decided enough was enough and headed off for a coffee and some chips before setting off for home.

Not a bad trip out albeit a chilly one!

A new Hybrid?

Today I went to Barnes - but nothing about and the light was dreadful. As I headed off from home it wasn't too bad but the mist came down the further north I travelled. Although it brightened up late on, by then it was time for home.

However!! Yesterday I had a wander in Bushy.

This squirrel was being fed peanuts in their shells by a well-prepared visitor.

Whilst another was playing hide-n-seek with me as it raced up a tree.

Ah - think she's spotted me!

But this duck was the most curious find of the day. When first spotted it was swimming with the Red-crested Pochards but I then saw it later and it was with the Tufted Ducks.

Now I'm sure it's mostly Tufted Duck but..... it's got the green of a mallard on its face and the red head of a Red Crested Pochard.

So what is it I wonder? And what shall we call it? (Entries on a postcard please...aka comments!)

I shall go back when I can in good light and hopefully get some better shots.

This very pretty bird is back again. I think it's a female Wigeon?

I wandered through the woods and came across more snowdrops bursting into flower.

The Mahonia was just out... in a few days this should be glorious. And there were a few bees buzzing around!

Cornus reflections in the Woodland Garden

I'm beginning to feel more convinced that Spring might be just around the corner... Oh I do hope so......

It's all starting to happen....

I woke up this morning to see a sugar-coating of snow! So I decided I would go to Painshill Park to take some snowy scenes and hopefully see the Goosanders again. I dipped on both. The snow petered out about 1 mile up the road and not a hint of a Goosander - they'd moved on.

As I seem to have taken rather a lot of pictures to day I shall keep the "prose" short.

I did manage to see the Kingfisher again and, in the wildest stretch of anyone's imagination, this is only a record shot!

You'll need to click on it to enlarge the picture!

Several Mute Swans about and the males were being very territorial. Quite a vicious fight broke out between these two.

And finally, one flew off!

I was entertained by a group of Mallards coming off the frozen water to land on the grass

This male (hey ho) came in with great style..

drew its wings back to lose height and speed..

and, with a nonchalant attitude, landed...

ooooops - pride comes before a fall - a little more practice needed perhaps :)

When walking on ice, it's handy to have wings to keep one's balance!

High, high up and female Great Spotted Woodpecker was looking for food

And on the way out, this incredibly tame Robin posed beautifully for me - at times coming too close for the camera to focus properly! I'd bumped into a fellow birder/photographer - Ian - and he rustled the leaves; the robin came to investigate..

And some icy scenes around the park

I don't often do "arty" pictures but the ice formation below the bridge, caught my attention.

This is the Giant Cedar. If you look at the fence at the base of the tree - this fence is about 3 feet tall .....the tree is somewhat taller ;)

A lovely walk with great entertainment! It was cold but there was noticeable warmth in the sunshine - wonderful! (the sun finally went as I was leaving).

No doubt I might bump into Ian again as he decided, having enjoyed his visit, to take out a membership - now where's that commission (lol)!!