First Loveridge Family Walk of 2017 - Coombe Abbey

Pair of Egyptian Geese

Nesting Swan

Great Tit

Grey Heron

The onset of the glorious spring sunshine on the first Sunday of April prompted my Wife, Son and I to go for our first family walk of the year.

This first walk was a later start than last year, but this was necessitated by our young Son who is harder to protect from the elements.

The venue for our walk was local favourite Coombe Abbey and Grounds situated just down the road a stones throw from Brandon Marsh.

Whilst this is a typically busy venue, early risers will find that the crowds do not appear until around midday.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable walk, plenty of species to be seen including a breeding pair of Egyptian Geese. The hide was good for a few fishing birds including Egrets, Cormorants and the odd Heron. Due to its proximity I would recommend this venue for a stroll and stop of around 2-4 hours.

This site does charge for parking, 1-2 hours is £2.00 and 2-4 hours is £3.80.

Anyone else who would like to write pieces, please contact me and let me know.

See you all soon!

Lee Loveridge.

Cropston Reservoir and Swithland Woods Walk

Dear Members,

We began at Cropston Reservoir with 13 members and Graham Deeping leading. It started as a grey, windy day. Unfortunately there was very little to see there apart from some grey wagtails, a hybrid mallard, great crested grebe and a fleeting view of a sparrowhawk. Next we moved onto Swithland Woods, where we found two more members. We could hear plenty of birds including goldcrests and chiff chaff, but they were proving elusive, due to poor light and their tendency to be high in the trees or masked by shrubs, apart from the numerous blue tits and chaffinches. However, the sun eventually appeared and so did the birds. We were then treated to good views of bullfinches, nuthatches, chiff chaff, long-tailed tits and, for the lucky ones, a pair of tree creepers. This was also an interesting location as few of us knew that we would be walking through dark green painted caravans and wooden chalets on bijou plots from 'Fantasy Land'. And then when the Green Goddess appeared - and I do mean war time fire engine - we wondered what could we find next. It was a white plastic swan in an ornate fountain with 8 stone horses! Swithland Reservoir was a return to birding with 11 different species of waterfowl and excellent views of a female sparrowhawk. Finally a goldcrest, goldfinches and a lone female redpoll in the shrubbery of the Water Board's gardens.

We should thank Graham for organising and leading what proved to be a gem of a morning. Our next walk is at Middleton Lakes on 23/4/17.

A bientot, Madeleine

Pied Wagtail

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Buzzard

Gadwall

Great Crested Grebe

Grey Wagtail

Bullfinch

BBC Planned Walk 19/03/17

Dear Members,

Graham will be leading this Sunday's walk to Cropston Reservoir, Swithland Woods and Reservoir, finishing, if you wish, at a Community Centre for coffee or tea just after midday.

The walk starts at 9am. from the lay-by on Reservoir Road (B5330), which is by the weir on the dam just ouside the village of Cropston. Most people will drive through the village of Cropston past the Badgers' Sett pub. I'm reliably informed. The lay-by is actually halfway along the dam at SK551 111.

From the LROS website home page under 'Birding Sites' and then '5. Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir'

Postcode is: LE7 7GQ for Reservoir Road.

We can either meet in the lay-by at 9am or at Sapcote at 8.30, but please let me know if you want a lift otherwise I will drive straight to Cropston. Lee will be leaving from Sapcote, but all his seats may be taken by Ellen, Wendy M and Julie. Please can you inform me by 8pm on Saturday evening unless it's an emergency.

Wellies might be needed for Swithland Woods.

Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible. The weather doesn't look too bad at the moment and you never know what we might find. There was a Bonaparte's gull last week!

Madeleine.