Goyt Valley

This is a look back to the Spring when there was a lot of activity in the Goyt Valley. One of my favourite places to visit at this time. So much going on and so much to see. It is quite the opposite in the autumn and winter when it can be very bleak and devoid of anything. It's still a lovely place to walk though.
This particular evening there were a few bits and bobs around. The usual Canada Geese were calling from the bank side of Errwood Reservoir and the odd Red Grouse could be heard every so often.

Song Thrush on the dry stone wall.

A Tree Pipit in its usual lofty position.

A Willow Warbler in amongst the fresh new leaves

Babes in the Woods.

Due to bad weather and family commitments it's been a while since I've been up to the Goyt Valley.
On one of my last visits there, there was plenty going on and lots to see. Parent birds were busy collecting food for their young, and others, nesting materials for nests. I wonder how they have all faired in this particularly wet period.

Mistle Thrush have been plentiful in the area, and this one posed nicely for me.

This is a juvenile Song Thrush that had fledged, along with two others. It was being fed by the nearby parents.

This pair of Nuthatch were only just prospecting a nest site.

A lovely male Redstart in the evening sunshine. Hopefully now has young to feed.

Song Thrush

A day off today to finish my Christmas shopping went so well that it left me with a little time to pop down to my patch and see what was about. The answer was not an awful lot, well not out of the ordinary anyway. There were though some really super looking Song Thrushes hopping and skipping around one of the fields. A few Blackbirds and Robins, oh and I did see my first Redwing of the year and on my patch too. A goo day all round.

Dawn Chorus

Another trip to Mum and Dad's meant I got to do an early morning walk around Roding Valley Meadows in Loughton. A nice cold frosty start saw a lingering mist over the River Roding, but a good list of birds were seen nonetheless. A Little Egret was close to the Oakwood Estate along with two Ring-necked Parakeets and a Green Woodpecker. Closer to the Buckhurst Hill end were Reed Bunting, Blackcap and Chiffchaff, with a single Kingfisher darting along the river. (Yes Wayne they are there!)
Lots of birds were in full song and a few of my pictures here show just that.

Song Thrush

Great Tit

Wren

Early morning mist over the running track and River Roding