Renton Righelato led a walk at Moor Green Lakes on the still, cloudy morning of Saturday 7th December. The leaves on the oaks were a tawny brown, but the leaves on the elms at the side of the path were still mostly green. While the group were gathering in the car park at the start of the walk, a Great Spotted Woodpecker called and a bumblebee flew along the hedge. Bird feeders beside the track were being visited by Great and Blue Tits, Greenfinches and Chaffinches. A Teal cruised slowly across just in front of the first hide. Beyond were Wigeons, Gadwalls, Tufted Ducks and Mallards. At the far side of the lake were a few Dabchicks and a Little Egret. Good numbers of Lapwings were resting on the nearest island. There were excellent views of a Snipe as it probed its way along a nearby spit. Outside the hut, a big flock of Siskins and a few Redpolls were feeding amongst the alders and birches.
The route continued along the track to the River Blackwater, then turned upstream along the river bank. A Grey Wagtail flew along the river and a large flock of Long-tailed Tits crossed the path. A plant at the bottom of a particularly steep section of river bank was identified as Water Figwort, after Renton had risked a soaking while collecting a specimen leaf for closer examination. Common Figwort has coarsely-toothed pointed leaves, while Water Figwort has bluntly toothed and bluntly tipped leaves. Different views of the lakes opened up and first 2 Goldeneyes were spotted, then there were good views of a party of Goosanders, with 4 green-headed males and 3 red-headed females. Columns of white marked the favoured roosting trees of the Cormorants. Turning round, the group then headed back downstream, following the Blackwater Valley Path beside more recent gravel workings at the western side of the site. Both Cut-leaved and Red Dead-nettle were in flower beside the track. Other flowers along this section included White Dead-nettle, Yarrow, Dandelion and Hogweed. On the walk back past the bird feeders, Reed Buntings were added to the species tally. Amongst a big flock of Canada Geese were 3 Barnacle Geese, with white faces and grey backs.
RDNHS excursion to Moor Green Lakes and Blackwater Valley 7-12-13
SU8062
Bird species:
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | Dendrocopos major |
| Siskin | Carduelis spinus |
| Redpoll | Acanthis flammea |
| Teal | Anas crecca |
| Wigeon | Anas penelope |
| Gadwall | Anas strepera |
| Lapwing | Vanellus vanellus |
| Snipe | Gallinago gallinago |
| Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula |
| Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula |
| Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Coot | Fulica atra |
| Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus |
| Goosander | Mergus merganser |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta |
| Mute Swan | Cygnus olor |
| Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea |
| Barnacle Goose | Branta leucopsis |
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea |
| Dabchick | Tachybaptus ruficollis |
| Dunnock | Prunella modularis |
| Blue Tit | Parus caeruleus |
| Great Tit | Parus major |
| Long-tailed Tit | Aegithalos caudatus |
| Nuthatch | Sitta europaea |
| Chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs |
| Greenfinch | Carduelis chloris |
| Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis |
| Reed Bunting | Emberiza schoeniclus |
| Carrion Crow | Corvus corone corone |
| Jackdaw | Corvus monedula |
| Green Woodpecker | Picus viridis |
| Goldcrest | Regulus regulus |
| Redwing | Turdus iliacus |
| Common Gull | Larus canus |
| Herring Gull | Larus agentatus |
| Black-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
| Pied Wagtail | Motacilla alba yarelli |
| Meadow Pipit | Anthus pratensis |
| Woodpigeon | Columba palumbus |
| Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus |
Plant species (all in flower apart from the Water Figwort):
| Water Figwort | Scrophularia auriculata |
| Yarrow | Achillea millefolium |
| White Dead-nettle | Lamium album |
| Red Dead-nettle | Lamium purpureum |
| Cut-leaved Dead-nettle | Lamium hybridum |
| Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale |
| Hogweed | Heracleum sphondyleum |
List by Renée Grayer and Renton Righelato