20th March '09 Colwick Park

Warm, very sunny with moderate breeze.

Colwick Park

Cormorants sunning themselves in Lodge Bay.

I had a tipoff by a fellow birder John Farrell that he had seen a Mandarin duck in a small stream that flows into Colwick Park. Strangely enoough it was John who I was with when I saw my very first Mandarin, a female, only last year, and he kindly provided the picture that went on the blog. I couldn't get over there for a few days and was hoping I wasn't too late. Friday is one of my days I have my grandson, Edward. So off we went in search of this lovely looking bird. I parked alongside the stream and having sorted Edward out by giving him a big stick to play with made a quick search of the stream. No Mandarin. I headed for the site warden to ask him. In between bites of his breakfast he managed to tell me it was usually around the area of the lake we were in. With Edward now in his buggy I scanned the lakeside. No Mandarin. Might as well have a walk round the lakes and hope it turns up I thought. Then as I looked up there walking across the grass and coming towards us was he. His expression was almost ' I'm so sorry I'm late dear chap' as he preened himself at the same time, ready for the photo shoot

Mandarin Duck

Anyway we got the pictures we wanted . I suspect this fellow has been around these ponds for a while. He was followed constantly by a female Mallard admirer who must have fallen for him at first sight. Sightings were hard to come by with a little commando rampaging through the undergrowth. Still today produced Springs first arrivals on the ponds of House Martins. What a lovely sight.

Colwick Lake

Mandarin Duck, Chaffinch, House Martin.