Walk Report: 06 December Testwood Lakes

Great White Egret

         © Chris Robinson

A fine Winter's day saw 17 members gather for a walk at Testwood Lakes. The route to the lower lake yielded a sighting of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a pair of Great Crested Grebes and Herring, Black Headed and Common Gulls. A Common Carp had just been landed – a fine specimen weighing over 20lb (yes, really). A Cetti's Warbler was heard but not seen. Continuing round Testwood Lake there was a distant sighting of Goldcrests. As we reached the screens there was a clear view of a Great White Egret on the scrapes. The craftsmanship of the log sculpture was admired.

Two Roe Deer were spotted on the walk to the Sand Martin Hide. From there we had a good view of a number of waterfowl including Tufted Duck, Pochard, Teal, a juvenile Heron , Wigeon, Shoveler, Mallard and Coot. A flock of Lapwing rose repeatedly without any apparent reason.

Jewel Ear

         © Chris Robinson

Moving on to the Heron Hide overlooking Meadow Lake there were Cormorants and an Aylesbury Duck. Sadly there was no sign of the recently reported Bittern. The woodland feeder mostly yielded Blue Tits and a Chaffinch.

Altogether there were at least 28 bird species recorded throughout the morning. Duncan and Richard surveyed the ferns and fungi. One of the more spectacular fungi was the Jelly Ear Auricularia auricla-judae which usually grows on Elder. There was also Candlesnuff Fungus, Variable Oysterling, Common Inkcap, Hairy Curtain Crust and Sulphur Tuft. The ferns identified were Male Fern, Lady Fern, Broad Buckler-fern and Harts Tongue. G&SN