Woodston Ponds and The Boardwalks

Went for a cycle out to Orton Staunch and back this morning taking in Woodston Ponds on the way out and the Boardwalks on the way back.

The cycling sound-recordist - parabolic mic on the back!

I wanted to get a good recording of Cetti's Warbler, and there have been lots of them at Woodston Ponds on my last few visits - especially around the channel that comes in from the River Nene. Unfortunately, whilst I heard several Cettis's, they were all distant. There was a very vocal Cuckoo however (with Cetti's in the background!) and all the usual stuff like Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Common Terns and so on.

At least two Ring-necked Parakeets in the big Willow trees at the Boardwalks. This really is a sad site these days. The carr woodland is almost completely dried out and becoming invaded by nettles, the path through the middle is very overgrown with the bridges beginning to fall apart - holes in the deck and the handrails rotting away.

At the bridge over the old power station outfall, the Swan with a nest beside the path had clearly just hatched its chicks. Mom was sat on the nest with dad close by and several tiny faces peering out through her feathers. Very cute!