BIRD IN THE HAND

Sunday 25th was another wet day and at least 30 toads still making their way to the pond near Firs Chase. The count of ones that didn't make it across the road on the 100 metre stretch east of the pond amounted to about 20. However there was still plenty of action at the pond itself with lots of pairs of eyes just breaking the surface.

The high pitched zee-zee-zee call of the tiny goldcrest was heard from a big cedar tree. It was probably the same bird which a few days earlier had stunned itself when it flew into our window. This is the picture that Nolly took of the dazed bird after she picked it up off the ground. After leaving it in a box to recover, it must have regained its strength and flown off. Such a fragile bundle of feathers at the healthiest of times without smashing head first into a window. It has the equivalent weight to a paper envelope and is our smallest British bird.

Down by the Dabchicks, there were the usual 10 dabchicks(little grebes) in the channel as well as a pair of red-breasted mergansers.