Glorious Mud

We did our monthly Wetland Bird Survey today. It was pretty quiet all round, with fewer walkers and joggers than usual and no fishermen or rowers. The water, unsurprisingly, was very low, but there was a small area of mud at the bottom of the draw-down so it was relatively easy to spot a Common Sandpiper which is usually lurking at the edge of the reservoir, but was taking advantage of this rare commodity. By next month, Summer migrants will probably be on their way, 
The fire across the valley is still smouldering, but I read that it was attended  by four fire engines and a wildfire vehicle. Hopefully, it will have been conifer plantation that was affected and not native woodland.