Yo peeps Haven’t posted for a while, so here’s a little group of smudges I took at Barnes Wetlands one morning this week. I was in and out like a fiddler’s elbow. In at 9.30 opening time, crash bash sausage and mash, smudges taken. By ten to eleven I was sitting down in the waterside restaurant having a cup of Rosy and a slice of Sexton Blake before returning to Chelsea. Method in madness, special deal, only 3 sovs (£3) before 11 0’clock. The Danish pastry is a bit tasty. Sorry I digress. First port of call was the pool where the smews reside alongside the goldeneyes. Here’s a Barnaby Rudge of the two drakes doing the okeykokey (posturing for the ladies)
In another of the pools a marbled teal drake was also ‘giving it plenty’. It’s the first time I’ve been able to identify the male. The crest at the back helped!
The little buffleheads looked gorgeous in their courting plumage. I enclose a photograph of mum & dad
In the same pool as the buffleheads was this splendid American wood drake. I know I post a lot of smudges of the Carolina but who could resist this handsome devil?
I thought a quick snap of a Southern Crested Screamer would be allowed (I also post them a lot!) as he was doing a stretch in the morning sunshine.
My last port of call on my perambulations of the wetland pathways and pools was the Wildside Hide where I was delighted to capture this little grebe stretching his wings
Before I bid you adieu, I must leave you with Mr Angry of Tunbridge Wells who was giving me the evil eye
That was a tufted drake. TTFN xx i Jedi de Quack
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