24, 29 & 30 Nov

24 Nov,
I was out later, around midday, and saw my first water vole in a couple of weeks, eating the water cress. The water levels in the water cress beds by the mill are now back to normal. I had a reply from the council who said it was them that had removed the water control device to prevent flooding further up stream and that it was replaced the following Monday. The watercress beds are actually stews, what ever they are? I saw the king fisher again, what a beautiful bird. Met a photographer who was waiting for the kingfisher, and he’s sent me one of his pictures, fantastic.

29 Nov,
Very little wildlife to be seen at Rooksbury this morning and it was freezing. The wrens are still frustrating me. If every wren that I saw was a water vole I’d be a happy man. All along the river banks and in the watercress I see small brown objects twitching or see the watercress shaking and think watervole, but no a wren. The kingfisher was busy again flying between the stews, his blues and rusts bright in the grey skies. On my way back to the car a Goldcrest in the tree by the bridge below the car park another Rooksbury first. Tiny and olive green, will watch out for more now.

30 Nov,
Wet and windy today. After freezing yesterday I decided that I would walk along the river towards the town centre to see what I could see. The answer, litter. Even on the edge of Rooksbury the amount of litter in the river is horrendous. Another email to the council looming I think. Again not much wildlife, I think I saw a Water Rail, never seen one of those before. Plus a pair of Bullfinch, and this duck.