July at Oak Road Lake

Another cloudy monday, we walk around the fishing lake and watch the swan family. Since our last visit, one of the cygnets has disappeared, only the white cygnet remaining. The adults are moulting, and after feeding they go back to the nest and preen themselves while the cygnet rests besides them. Many Coot juveniles and ducklings around. The Reed Warblers hunt insects in the willows or sing from the reeds. We hear a Whitethroat sing as well. A group of swallows feed over the fields. The highlight is the first Red Admiral of the year, which we flush. She flutters and settles, wings closed on a Creeping Thistle (above).

Common Mallow, Malva sylvestris

The only remaining cygnet watches as daddy feeds

Flowering water plants. Must look up what they are.

Great Willowherb, Epilobium hirsutum

Swan family going back to the nest

  We spot this tiny toadlet, in the same area as the first time we visited the lake a few years back.

Amber snail

Preening swans

Tethered horse at the other side of the river

Rabbit

Bird List

1. Blackbird
2. Blackcap
3. Carrion Crow
4. Chiffchaff
5. Collared Dove
6. Coot
7. Goldfinch
8. House Sparrow
9. Lesser Black-backed Gull
10. Magpie
11. Mallard
12. Moorhen
13. Mute Swan
14. Reed Warbler
15. Swallow
16. Whitethroat
17. Woodpigeon
18. Wren