Rodley Nature Reserve

I spent a couple of hours at Rodley early afternoon on Saturday. Another cold but beautiful day, it was pretty quiet both people and bird wise but I quite enjoyed the peaceful wander.

Bullfinch

Chaffinch

I also got quite skilled at sitting just behind the framework in the hides so the sun didn't shine right in my face and I could scan most of the water!

Cormorant

Mute Swans

Coot

The fields beside the reserve were full of Gulls, Geese and Crows, lots of Canada with a few Greylag Geese, Black-headed and Herring Gulls. 

In the reedbed hide I had it to myself after a little while and a Kingfisher put in an appearance, I was able to sit and watch it fishing for a few minutes, that was quite a lovely moment.

Further around by one of the screens overlooking the reedbeds I had another moment, I heard a noise to the side of the screen and looked down just as a Weasel came under the fence, it stopped, tilted it's head and looked up at me from only a couple of feet away, I didn't dare move and i'm sure the moment was only seconds but it seemed ages! It eventually turned back under the fence and I breathed again! I mean it was seconds but i've never been so close to a Weasel before and to have it stop and look like that, day made!

I spent a little time watching the birds in the Managers Garden, mostly Jackdaws, Stock Doves and Tits. The trees around were full of Crows, a couple of Pied Wagtails flew over and a noisy Mistle Thrush landed overhead. All the while the sky is filled with the noise of the Geese and Gulls.

Jackdaw

Crow

I didn't have time to stop for a drink as I was due to meet my husband who'd gone for a cycle along the canal whilst I visited the reserve and we were off to visit my brother and his family. I'm lucky they don't live too far from here and we can both squeeze in something we enjoy on the way!