A mid-afternoon meander from the car park to the second screen making sure I got in the required number of steps to keep my exercise app happy.
I squelched along the Roman Road and emerged from the gloom to trek along Greenaways. Thankful for the afternoon sun which once again added a warm glow to the proceedings.
I noted the lapwing in the fields and the marsh harrier pootling around in the far distance. A little later on a dunnock stopped by for a photoshoot.
I stopped by the first screen and as not much was going on I was soon on my way to the second screen. There was a chappie standing under the trees at the first corner - I was to find out why that was a bit later on.
Really quiet at the second screen too. But with a flask of coffee and a few snacks the time passed quickly - I amused myself watching the fish jumping.
Lapwings flew over and a lone swan went about its business.
On my way back to the first screen, a female reed bunting stopped by.
Almost back at the first screen a hobby flew by. I managed to get a somewhat blurry photo.
And then I found out why the chappie was standing under the trees. The hobby - I believe there were two around - was using the trees to watch over the reserve before flying off in search of a meal.
The hobby stayed around for a photoshoot. Not easy because of the shadows and the backlighting. The hobby took pity on me looking disdainfully on while I fiddled around with the buttons and dials on my camera.
Then time to go. A few fallow deer on Greenaway's, and a brown rat joining the regulars at the bird feeders.
A few 'firsts' for me - first hobby in flight, first hobby posing while I took photos, and first brown rat.
And, FYI, the reserve is about to begin its winter seed feeding programme. So lots of seed eating birds will be hanging out by the Wetlands Watch.