Sunny intervals today but very cold with snow flurries in the air. Decided to go back to Mere Sands Wood as it is very sheltered and I wanted to try and get a better view of the kingfisher. Upon arrival I spent an hour at the feeding station. The coal tits showed well today and were calling loudly and the water rail was around for a lot of the time. I also kept hearing the nuthatch but he wouldn’t come down out of the thick spruce tree so I never got to see him. Also saw a magellanic pheasant who seemed to shine just as beautifully as the normal coloured pheasants.

This water rail appeared from the banking above me. Slowly he walked down the banking and across the grass over to the reeds on the right hand side. I tracked him all the way and at no time would my lens focus!! The air was blue!!! I had to wait for him coming back when he walked back just as slowly and my lens still wouldnt focus properly . The last shot I got was this one as he disappeared behind a fence.

Walking down through the woods to the first hide I saw a pair of dunnocks displaying to one another on the fence. A flock of noisy siskins busily feeding in alder trees high above also gave their presence away and a greater spotted woodpecker shot across the path in front of me.

Sadly I didn’t see the kingfisher today. It seems I had missed him by about five minutes. He had been seen sitting on a post in front of the hide but for the rest of the time I was there he didnt come back. By this time grey clouds had rolled in and large snow flakes began to slowly fall. Out on the lake teal, shoveler, golden eye, Cormorant and great crested grebe could be seen. In the reed beds out front the reed buntings were returning to build their nests. It is lovely to see them in their natural habitat once again.

Leaving the hide I decided to take a walk round the nature reserve. Didn’t see very much until I got to the meadow that is the last stage of the walk by the visitor centre. By this time the snow flurries had stopped , the sun had come out and it was really very pleasant with plenty of blue sky. Looking over the meadow blackbirds and Song thrushes could be seen everywhere foraging for worms in the flooded grass. A lone redwing also enjoyed a meal but on seeing me coming soon took flight. Enjoying the sun I decided to sit for a little while and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature all around me.

Bullfinches were calling and flitting through the hedgerow and I got good views of both sexes., their white rumps flashing as they flew away. A jay with his raucous call could also be seen skulking in a tree but he was very wary and flew off further into the wood. Greattits were very vocal with small parties of them frenziedly chasing one another round and round. Robins and chaffinches were singing everywhere. Sitting in the sun watching all the bird activity around me it was like I was in a different time zone to the past few days. It was so quiet and peaceful and warm. A very different ending indeed to the day before.