On arriving at "The Valley" we could see that it was quiet - not many cars in the car park. It was obvious too, the damage that had been sustained by the Visitor Centre, since we last visited. Fortunately we had no need of coffee before we set off.
Disappointingly the gate to the hide was locked, preventing us from starting off looking across the scrape. A once round the site was called for and soon the scope was out to check for unusual visitors amongst the hoards of black-headed gulls. None to be seen though.
Despite all this, a total of 33 species were noted, including: blue tit, heron, woodpigeon, feral pigeon, magpie, crow, moorhen, shoveler, lapwing, teal, wigeon, black-headed gull, oystercatcher, canada goose, lesser black-backed gull, mute swan, gadwall, goosander, great tit, tufted duck, long-tailed tit, mallard, starling, chaffinch, blackbird, robin, bullfinch, reed bunting, greenfinch, sparrow, willow tit, dunnock and jay.
Our favourite had to be the rather odd, but stunning looking, male goosander.
Shame we didn't have time to head over to the Swan Pool. Next time.
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