Spennells Pensioner: Fox, Grebes and lots of photos

Tuesday 26th Feb

Official, the hottest day ever recorded in February.

Popped up the pool early on to see what was there, saw the two Grebes, also quite a few Canadian Geese and the usuals, not many gulls about though.

Had a walk round by the reserves, heard the GS Woodpecker in Captain's reserve and also one by Pirates Wood, took the wide angle lens with me to get some frosty shots.

Had to pop out for a bit after breakfast and then the rest of the day was spent out and about round Spennells with the camera, oh what a life!

Had a walk up as far as the Railway field but hardly saw any bird life.

Main interest was to see if I could get photos of the Grebes doing their courting dance, but it didn't happen, not even certain that they are male and female, one keeps hiding in the shade and the other keeps going all round the pool calling, sounds almost like it's crying, they did get quite close to each other at one point, they had both dived and they came up within a couple of feet of each other and then all hell broke loose, can see pics below, shame they were so far out when it happened.

Got one sighting of the kingfisher and also a couple of visits from the Cormorant.

Saw couple buzzards over Captains late afternoon, also a Brimstone butterfly again in the reserve.

No sign of the frogs by the three pools, along the streams at the front I saw treecreepers, Nuthatches and Jays.

Great Tits were inspecting the Nuthatch nest, I didn't see the Nuthatches in that location this morning.

Saw the fox again, it was really spread out in the sunshine, so much that I thought it was dead and then it popped it's head up, must say it looks in very fine condition.

Few Long tail tits up by Captain's along with a few Chaffinches, robins and some Jays late on.

Forecast nice again tomorrow so hoping to be back out in morning.

Three from the Three pools area.