I completed this years farm surveys yesterday and enjoyed my grandsons party in the afternoon. This morning I woke early so decided I'd walk the reservoir and get home in time to sort Suzannes breakfast.
I arrived at 5.30 and took a slow walk along the south basin counting Grebes etc as I do. I had a Whimbrel and two Osytercatchers on the banks but otherwise it was pretty quiet. I scanned the south side of the causeway but found nothing of interest so moved to scan the north side and as I got to the far end I noticed something unusual and needed a second look before I believed my own eyes. A Badger was seemingly trying to climb the bank on the far side. I walked around to it and it seemed healthy as it walked around in the corner and stood on its hind legs etc before it settled down for a rest. I let a couple of locals know hoping for a bit of advice which didn't come so contemplated the animals fate if left down the bank on the waters edge. I called Thames Water but they didn't offer any advise save to recommend trying to contact the RSPCA which I set about doing only to find they didn't answer the phone until 8AM so I had over an hour to kill before I could ring them. I spent that hour counting birds and photographing the Ravens again.
The RSPCA were helpful and said they would send somebody out and within a few minutes the guy coming had called to say he'd be there about 9.30am so I had another 90minutes to wait now. I checked again with Thames Water about access etc for the RSPCA and the guy was happy for them to attend.
Meeting him at the gates we drove slowly around to the Badger and then the games began as the creature proved just how fit and well it was by giving us the slip for about 40 minutes until it eventually the inspector had pushed it far enough around the causeway for it to climb the steps and make its own exit. A happy ending which cost me 4 hours more than I wanted to give the reservoir today but Suzanne was understanding when I got home thankfully.
On the bird front I had two Whimbrel, two Oystercatchers and seven Dunlin along with the Ravens which I do enjoy watching on my visits.
As I like to say "if you get out there, you might just see something"
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| Cormorant |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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