January. You could be forgiven for thinking it’s just a drab, grey, dive under the duvet month. The tinsel and fairy lights have been packed away, and the festive season feels like a distant memory.
But a squelch round St Aidan’s is probably just what you need to refresh your spirits – and work off some of those Christmas calories. Even on the dullest of days, there is a splash of colour - and possibly a patch of sunshine – to be found if you look out for it.
So much sky! (Looking east over Main Lake)
And then there are the birds.
St Aidan’s has more than its share of monochrome birds. Right now there are hundreds of tufted ducks across the reserve’s lakes. I love those punky little black and white chaps. But look closely and you’ll notice he has his own touch of colour with his blue beak.
Just a few of the many tufted ducks
Fewer in number, but arguably more spectacular, is the goldeneye. At first glance, this chap looks similar to the tufted duck, with his black and white back. But actually, his head is greenish – and, of course, the clue is in the name. His golden eye is his very own spot of sunshine.
He’s got his eye on you
This particular goldeneye has been on Main Lake for a few weeks. He is trying to impress the ladies, but I didn’t see any nearby to notice his antics.
Is she looking?
The grey clouds cleared for a while during my walk this week, and I got a glimpse of a big blue sky.
A view west over Main Lake
As well as the waterfowl on its lakes, St Aidan’s can boast of the midwinter colours of the song birds, especially in the trees along the bottom of the Main Lake, and on the Warren feeder. I watched a gang of bullfinches flitting through the bare branches. You will likely hear them before you see them – they use a lovely fluting whistle to call to each other. The males sport a bright pink breast.
A Fairburn bullfinch
A splash of yellow, shades of blue and green. Blue tits are gorgeous Maybe we take them for granted as they are so ubiquitous. But they have so much character!
You can see for miles from up here!
And for winter colour, the stroppy robin can usually be relied upon to put in an appearance. Robins are the original early birds – I have a dawn robin on my feeder most days. It is undoubtedly one of the mouthiest of our native birds too, always ready to add its two penn’orth. And what a lovely two penn’orth it is.
Give us a song, then, robin.
Before the clouds descended again I was lucky enough to spot the most colourful bird of the day. Mr Kingfisher. His turquoise and orange plumage positively glowed in the low, winter sun while he perched on the end of a bullrush.
Posing for his picture
I headed back to the Visitor Centre after a satisfying wander round the reserve. It was worth a glance back down across the Eastern reedbed for the quality of the late light, the shades of the sky, and rich browns of the reeds. So much colour on a grey day.