I Laugh In The Face Of Superstition!

It wasn't such a bad Friday 13th. We spent a long day at Slimbridge WWT. We were up early and on the road by half past eight, determined to make the most of a forecasted sunny day, and it was a glorious day!

We spent the morning walking up to the Holden Tower, and with the winter wildfowl now gone, the Summer Walkway up the banks of the Severn is reopen. Unfortunately the last bit of the walk was impassable due to mud and puddles after the last few days storms, so that will have to wait until next time!

The hedgerows were alive with bird song and nest building. It really was good to watch. Summer must be here, as we spotted a pair of swallows swooping around the fields, my first of 2012!

After a spot of lunch, we walked over to the Ziess hide. It was packed there by now, and I know some people may complain of noisy kids running amok, but b and large, most are well behaved, and I always hope that a little bit of the wonder of nature gets engraved in them each time the visit, and one of them will be inspired to become a great conservationist of the future. It was a little bit warmer in the hide since I last visited on Bittern Day - 1st February, the Bittern is long gone now.

We sat and watched the Otters for a bit, something I don't normally do there, and unless it is a feeding talk, I have never seen them so active.

And then before we knew it it was time to leave. We spent an extra two hours there than we normally do, and yet the day was over in a flash.

It was a short detour to stop at my brothers for tea and see the kids, and then it was home and that wonderful feeling when you sink into your own bed.

All in all, not bad for a Friday the 13th!

Puntastic Rejected Blips

Feeling A Little Otter

Okay .. Who's The Joker Around Here

And a bit of footage I shot of a Coot feeding her chicks.