21st October 2012 - Amwell

We visited Amwell on a walk with the Chorleywood and District RSPB Group, which was the first time I'd ever been.  The combination of birds and trains is always a good one!  Our leader was Jono Forgham, a great birdwatcher we'd been out with many times before.

Despite a recommendation, I wasn't allowed to take these home for a soup.  Hmph.

 The Cormorant were out sunning themselves in force with a large crowd of Gulls down the far end of the lake.  Unfortunately it was a little too hazy for my binoculars, but with a little help I found a Common Gull happily sitting on a post looking lovely.  At the edge of the water there were three Snipe and seven Grey Heron were dotted about the place with a couple up in the trees.  Amongst the Canada Geese I saw my first Greylag Geese of the last few months and always a favourite, some Lapwing.

Ducks included Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted, Wigeon and Pochard with Teal spotted later on in the walk.  There was also a Great Spotted Woodpecker bopping around and a Jay posed in the sun for us to admire.  Despite straining our necks for a good twenty minutes, the elusive Redpoll a couple of our group had spotted earlier was not to be seen, but plenty of Siskin were happy to oblige instead.  The walk was rounded off with a Yellow-legged Gull and an excellent fry up at the Village Cafe in Stanstead Abbotts.