Greylag Geese

I took Dylan down to the lakes at dusk today and was immediately rewarded with the sight of skeins of Greylag Geese taking off from the water to seek out night time feeding grounds. Calling as they went, and flying towards the sunset, this was a truly wild experience.
A little later, mixed flocks of Jackdaws, Rooks and Crows flew in the opposite direction, the evocative contact calls of the Daws the only audible sound. The rabbits were emerging from their hiding places though these had been drastically reduced by the Park authorities who had mown many of the areas of rough ground. Tall grasses, and teazles were cut down to produce a sterile area. Some magpies and gulls were taking the opportunity to scour the ground to discover what tasty morsels the mower might have revealed. The behaviour was reminiscent of the birds in other parts of the world who pick off insects and small creatures escaping an oncoming bush fire. I trust that the herbage will regrow in time to provide cover for the Whitethroats which inhabit this area through spring and summer. The cuttings have been piled up to provide large compost heaps, which themselves should provide a habitat for some creatures.