RUTLAND WATER + DCW
A winter’s day but no wind to speak of and some warmth in the sun at times.
Egrets were the order of the day with numerous Little and at least 5 Great White. The former have not warranted a mention on bird news for years and it seems now, that their Heron sized followers are to be taken for granted.
We started with a look along the shore at Barnsdale and a wander into Barnsdale Wood where I was pleased to have Dave draw my attention to Square-stalked St. John’s-wort Hypericum tetrapterum and two sedges. The road to botanical competence is long and winding; Remote Sedge Carex remota, I have seen a few times but not really recognised it as being stand-out different and Thin-spiked Wood Sedge Carex strigosa, I have never seen before. I am pleased to say that I would have recognised them as being unfamiliar so I’m getting there.
There is a variety of sheep along the walk to the hides at Lyndon and they include this ‘panda’ variety.
I tracked it down with the assistance of google to being of the Kerry Hill breed originating from Powys around the English/Welsh border.
And a couple of recent garden encounters; a milder spell towards the end of November brought a small rush of December Moths and the first day of bird-feeder stocking tempted a Blackcap to the suet.
