Smelling the spring at the College Lake

It’s been a while I posted anything here and it’s mainly because of suffering from depression by the long winter and other issues, but as the daylights are getting longer the life is returning back to my mind. The same happens in nature as birds have started to return to their short breeding season for our greatest pleasure.

Following the shocking and early death of the inspirational Bill Thompson III (Editor and Co-Publisher of Bird Watcher’s Digest), earlier this week made me rethink and reevaluate a few things around me. I dedicated today’s birding to Bill who I could not meet, but he always greatly supported my shorebird work when I started WorldWaders.

A view to the College Lake from the visitor Centre hide. iPhone 7 Plus © Gyorgy Szimuly

After a tough week in the office, I couldn’t force myself to wake up early so a midday birding was good enough for me. I headed to College Lake near Tring. It’s a nice local nature reserve supporting a wide range of wildlife. The highlights of the area were a Brant Goose and a Black-tailed Godwit. Both species are uncommon for Buckinghamshire. As usual, I walked around the lakes and recorded birds seen and heard, using eBird.

Peacock butterfly (*Aglais io).*Sony RX10 IV © Gyorgy Szimuly

eBird checklist from the area:

College Lake BBOWT NR, Buckinghamshire, England, GB
30-Mar-2019 11:20 – 14:01
3.949 kilometer(s)
47 species

Greylag Goose (Anser anser) 13

Topside view emerging Greylag Goose. Sony RX10 IV © Gyorgy Szimuly

Greylag Goose heading towards the feeding grounds. Sony RX10 IV © Gyorgy Szimuly

Brant (Branta bernicla) 1
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 102
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 4
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) 2
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) 29
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) 14
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) 1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 18
Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) (Anas crecca crecca) 10
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) 38
Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) 1
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) 1
Common Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumbus) 2
Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) 7
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) 36
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) 6
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) 32
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) 2
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) 1

Record shot of the Black-tailed Godwit feeding in front of the Octagon Hide. Sony RX10 IV © Gyorgy Szimuly

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) 8
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) 1
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) 4
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) 430
Mew Gull (Larus canus) 8
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus graellsii) 14
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) 2

Adult Red Kite over the car park. Sony RX10 IV © Gyorgy Szimuly

Common Buzzard (Western) (Buteo buteo buteo) 2
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) 1
Eurasian Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis viridis) 1
Eurasian Magpi (Pica pica) 4
Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) 22
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) 96
Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) 25
Great Tit (Parus major) 11
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus europaeus) 5
Eurasian Wren (British) (Troglodytes troglodytes indigenus) 7
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) 11
Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) 1
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) 15
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) 1
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) 6
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) 10

A very confiding Dunnock in its territory. Sony RX10 IV © Gyorgy Szimuly

This Dunnock was defensive and cautious. Sony RX10 IV © Gyorgy Szimuly

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) 5
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) 4
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) 2
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) 5