No idea what the weather might do, so .....

Yup, glutton for it. It was one of those, don't really know what it's going to do, days! The weather was .... meh but not raining, not super overcast and it has been a while so, off I went. It's 7 miles from here as only the drunkest of crows fly, wee twisty roads where meeting a logging truck can change your heart rate in an instant, but lovely roads at this time of year, all fields and Autumnal trees.

There were a lot of birds zipping around on the final stretch of road so it all looked busy, there were a couple of cars in the car park and another behind me  chaotic! 

Anyway, off I went up the usual track, I spotted a small flock in some trees down by the water.

I initially thought Redpoll but not sure now. Linnet??? 

I then noticed I was being followed by three people with big dogs off the leads and running amok! Choices. Do I walk fast and try to stay ahead or wait for them to pass, then wait for everything to calm down again? 

There were quite a few birds in another Rowan right next to the path so I attempted to grab a few shots before the throng got there, I should have waited. C'est la vie.

I shouldn't rush it, made a hash of a couple of shots of a female and juvenile male Bullfinch  and that's all I ended up with.

I walked on, trying to stay ahead but they were catching up and the dogs were all over the place, not a lot to see ....

Up until the day of the eagles, I knew nothing about the creation of Backwater Reservoir. I met a farmer lady on my walk and she told me a few stories and pointed out the old road! The what???? 

Today, with the water almost totally calm, I got a shot of it. There's an old boat house on this side and that's where the road came back up, before the reservoir was flooded.

I'd fair marched up the track, stopped to drop some food at the picnic bench and headed for the first gate, staying ahead but hurrying. Good walk though.

I spotted a Buzzard looking shifty on the dead trees and attempted to get a shot of it. Was it holding something?

I don't think so.

I stepped behind the trees at the gate to wait for the folks and dogs to turn or go by. They went through the gate and carried on ahead of me  so I hung around a while to let them get on a bit.

At least I could now dawdle along and keep my eyes peeled. Not a lot going on. I did see a gaggle of Cormorant way over the water and a Goosander female swimming by them

It was definitely a Cormorant day, I counted at least ten on the walk.

There were quite a few Mallard over there as well but too far away.

Remember I said I didn't know what the weather was going to do? The sun shone for a while, on me in my three laters!!!!!!!  Roasting. Then it hid again.

Another Buzzard shared slowly overhead and disappeared.

I could also see more birds capering in the water way over the other side, again! 

Goosander females?

Once again, I really must head over to that side now and again, especially while the tide is out  so I can walk along the shoreline.

So, I turned for home and there's a Stonechat! In fact, a pair but I never did get a shot of the male.

They were flitting around feeding in the new trees area and despite clambering up the bank, I never got a closer shot.

I was now heading for home fairly sharpish, Jo had a Drs appointment in the afternoon and I was damned if I could remember when 

I passed the Buzzard up on one of the dead trees, watching me to make sure I behaved.

Through the gate again, I stopped at the burn and the fallen tree for a few moments but the birds in there stayed hidden, onward ...

A Wren burst into song nearby, well, somewhere in my vicinity, I finally spotted it on a pine branch.

And that was that! I did try to capture the four Red-legged Partridge running up the road ahead of me but that didn't work out. Then a few Bullfinches in the all-you-can-eat buffet tree but they didn't want to be photographed so, that really was it for today.

Not the best day ever but a fab walk, lovely weather, even though I ended up sweating like a Marine at a spelling test!  

It's a glorious morning here today so ............. 

Until next time.