“Hi, I haven’t seen you for a while” I say to one of the frequent bird watchers I’ve encountered on my visits to the lakes.
“Well, I’m here every day” he replies.
Now, I knew he was a frequent visitor to Bury Lake but hadn’t realised just how often he came. It explains why he is just so knowledgeable about all the comings and goings on this particular lake.
I’ve always met him on a small pier about a third of the way down one side of the lake at a point opposite an island. He is always equipped with a camera, which admittedly I haven’t seen him use, and a selection of bird food, which I have seen him distribute to what appear to be his favourites, though some of the handfuls he throws out are always stolen by gulls.
He is friendly and generous with his information and today tells me about the moulting Egyptian geese and their young gosling who are just moving off as I arrive. We discuss - well he tells me - how the red crested pochards have lost the colour in their feathers but are still recognisable with their bright red beaks. Warming to his subject he explains how the colourful plumage of the mallards was returning.
Then, as if on cue, an even more colourful American wood duck appeared.
I think the American wood duck is a beautiful bird and never miss an opportunity to take some photos as you can see.
They aren’t native to the UK and my knowledgeable friend tells me that “Woody” as he calls him probably escaped into the wild.
He tells me that Woody can’t fly and is missing a wing. At first I can’t really tell.
He says to look closely at Woody’s back and then suddenly I notice it, the blue and white wing feathers which are resting on Woody’s tail are only on one side.
Look closely at these photos and see if you can see it too.
He says this is why Woody is always on the lake and will in mating season team up with a pair of mallards.
On this slightly sad note I bid my ‘friend’ goodbye, but I’m ashamed to say I don’t know his name so can’t thank him publicly.
I walk on to Stocker’s Lake and as I stroll around it, the weather, which had been cloudy, slowly improves
I get a chance to capture pictures of Canada and Greylag Geese in flight
And the graylag splashing down
I spotted a Cormorant perched on a log.
And a final reflection on my morning…
It’s been another enjoyable visit and I promise myself I’ll be back (which wasn’t ever really in doubt) but I also make a resolution to make sure I find out my friend’s name next time I see him… and perhaps I’ll tell him I have immortalised him in this little blog.
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