Nature reserve walk

I've been meaning to post some photos of our walk on Monday, and as it is now Wednesday (how did that happen?), I really must do it.

This time, we headed along the coastal road and enjoyed the sea air.  There is a small nature reserve we have visited several times, and we spent some time in the bird hide there, just watching the activity on the water.

The view from the hide

This Grey Heron looks to be standing guard

Bar-tailed Godwit (we think) 

Mute Swan

We spied this lone duck on the beach, but we're not sure what it is.  The white patch is distinctive but we haven't been able to identify it yet.

The mysterious duck is on the right-hand side, close to the water's edge

Bunny trying to hide!!

N has been busy potting up the seeds that we've germinated indoors and on the window sills.  I'll try to have a round up of what's growing at the weekend.  

I've been spending a bit of time every day sanding and preparing the woodwork in the communal area, prior to undercoating and glossing.  I just do a little every day - by the time I've sanded, washed down and hoovered up, a little takes quite a time.


I've also started washing the winter coats and jackets, taking advantage of the warmer temperatures and quite windy conditions.  So far I've done three jackets and two gilets, and will try to get a couple more done tomorrow.

This last photo is another mystery bird.  It's obviously a duck, but the markings don't seem to fit with any of the recognisable breeds.  However, it does have the very distinctive curled tail feathers of a male Mallard, and as the always-reliable RSPB Pocket Birds book (Jonathan Elphick and John Woodward) does mention that Mallard plumage can be variable due to interbreeding with domestic ducks, we think that is what is must be.