My weekly look at Chelmarsh was due and a check of the snow covered fields just before the Riverside Inn turned up three Whooper Swans with a big flock of Mute Swans and Canada Geese, feasting on some kind of leafy crop (kale?) under the snow. Here's one of them.....
Chelmarsh reservoir was completely frozen over - the first time I've seen this. The 'clear' bit in the picture is ice not covered by snow!
The scrape was similarly covered but the stream running through ensures there is a little open water!
A shame they were well distant but I could see that two male Common Pheasants squaring up to each other were likely to get their handbags out?
They did eventually - just a shame they couldn't have performed a little closer but what a monumental waste of energy! The following three images represents 0.3 of a second!
Finally, I thought my luck was going to be in as a 'Snipe' flew in.... Sadly, no Jack, just a Common Snipe but with the icy margin background to the water - not to be sniffed at - an image or two beckoned!
At least one foot can be kept warm, tucked up in the plumage!
I'm not sure I'd fancy immersing my head in the icy water for tasty morsels in the mud......
Just a pose or two......
A close up to finish. After the entry of another occupant to the hide, it was the last I saw of him.....
I checked out the River Severn where it was visible from the road on the way back to Bridgnorth. Nothing of note but loads of ducks, Goosanders etc, no sign of the Red-crested Pochard which had been seen in this area recently!
After parking up in the town, I walked downstream through Wellmeadow, a couple of icy riverscapes.....
A good number of Gulls including this first Winter Common Gull.....
Little Grebe.....
A very showy male Goosander, catching a Ruffe...
Then trying to align it for a smooth passage of those spiny fins - down the hatch....
Plus drake Manadarin....
A really nice walk - enjoyed every minute!
