A long day on the ranch....

It was another frantic, family filled day on the reserve with many groups coming in to do the Easter Trail (did you know that the world's chickens lay 562 billion eggs between them every year??) and other activities that we have laid on.

The weather was actually glorious and the temperature had risen somewhat from the chill of Tuesday. Migrants were a little thin on the ground today but I could see three Marsh Harriers and two Buzzards at one stage from the window. To be honest, I did not get much chance to window glance anyway but it did not feel like I missed much.

Many people commented on the number of butterflies on the wing today with some wonderful shots of....

Orange Tip (Val Callen)

Peacock (Tony Houston)

and...

Speckled Wood (Mark Vale)

I finished up at normal time and tried to head across the Thames to home but for the third night on the trot I was stuck.... the QEII Bridge was gridlocked once again so after a bit of weaving (via North Stifford and Ockenden) we ended up back at work where the Wardening Team were working late to do some survey work and the ITV Film Crew for 'Chasing Shadows' were still on site en masse and had not yet finished for the day.

A picnic then ensued and some veggie pizza was pinched once I had guided Nicole and Jason back from their foolish food quest into the heart of darkness that is the pit of Lakeside.

With the film crew meant to be off by 730, I went for a stroll out on the reserve (yes I do still know the way). Lapwings were swooping all around and many (and I do mean many) were sat on visible nests while Redshanks were doodling and in some case canoodling too.  Hopefully more nests to follow! The Kingfisher zipped by, calling furiously and Little Grebes giggled and plopped as I ambled along.

A glance at the river wall suggested that filming was at last coming to an end and I clocked Noel Clarke with them as they packed up for the day (you could hear Nicole swoon, way back in the centre as soon as he appeared) and the entourage of crew, cast and fake emergency services headed back towards the centre....

Reed Buntings flicked out of the ditch and the Mute Swans on the Dragonfly Pool were warily watching me as I passed by. Two Yellow Wagtails called as they flew over and a Little Egret came up from right alongside me.  At that point I looked up and thought.... 'That's not right...' There were several cows on the mantlet bank.

And from the sound of all the munching, they were quite happy with the availability of the greener grass on the other side.  I let the wardens know the good news... not.... and then, with the help of Jason, we managed to cajole them into returning to their field so that we could close the gate.

When I say 'we', it is meant very much in the Royal sense as I was wearing brown suede shoes (yes I know...) and therefore I let Jason do the pushing (and squelching) while I held the gate open and made occasional hand movements and 'move along' noises.

He did a grand job but I did have to point out that the one closest to him was the young bull (and why they were not udders). Thankfully he is a docile chap ... the bull that is.

With the cattle safely enclosed in one field, we started to walk back with the last of the sun sinking below the landfill and the temperature dropping. Suddenly a bird flew from the river wall straight towards us and disappeared behind the mantlet...  we both reacted the same... a Ring Ouzel! We left it in peace as it was obviously going to roost and continued onward while a Marsh Harrier still quartered Wennington.

The film crew were now meant to have gone so why was there a car heading back along the river wall... a radio check with Nicole left us puzzled. This was quickly followed by two quad bikes loaded with yuuuvvvs... oh dear... would we ever get home and even the QEII Bridge now looked to be flowing!

Back at the centre, a chat with Mr Angry, the last remaining lorry driver in the car park, enlightened us to the car and driver on the river wall who was looking for some lost keys in the dark. He had had enough and off he went to Watford while the quad bikes hastily headed back towards the road. Disturbingly, one looked just like the one we lost a couple of years ago... it even had the bread crate on the front.

We just need 'lost key man' to return and could then leave. He grumpily reappeared and we chivvied him off site and leaving the guys to do their survey, we locked up and called it a night.

So there you have it.... it is now 2215 and bed beckons.... I wonder what tomorrow will hold in store for us?

9-4-14