We are members of the RSPB and today we went to an “Aren’t Birds Brilliant!” day at Stanwick Lakes in Stanwick (funnily enough) which is about 10 miles away.

“Aren’t Birds Brilliant!” is running every weekend throughout February with RSPB staff and volunteers on hand with binoculars, telescopes and a wealth of information.

We sat in the hide and watched a Tufted Duck duck and dive under the water over and over, a Great Crested Grebe dive and catch fish, Canada Geese snoozing in the sunshine on an island, Mute Swans glide past elegantly with their big signets following on behind.

We also saw Coots fighting over territory – I don’t think any of us had seen anything like it before (other than on nature documentaries). They lay back on top of the water and fight with their feet, which are claw-like like garden birds rather than webbed like ducks’ feet. If kicking isn’t scaring the other one off then they try to sink them, the RSPB man said that it’s not unknown for them to drown an opponent – I don’t think I fancy coming back as a Coot!
Jack and Ellie went swimming at the pool in Kettering with Tony this afternoon to carry on their training for the Bournemouth Pier to Pier swim in the summer; they are staying over at my mum’s tonight so it seems eerily quiet here at the moment – I’m off to make the most of it and wonder how on earth Edward can be seven months old already.

Sarah x
Tufted Duck

Diving…

Fighting Coots!

Swan – just beautiful.