Tufty Touch Down

I was up early this morning hoping to capture my blue tits in good light by their steam boiler nest. The chicks had fledged over night and were lurking in the hedge. :( I was wondering why it is termed fledged. The feathers form on the chicks, that is fledging. We used to say the chicks had flown.

I visited Amwell nature reserve this evening. I got long-tailed tits, a little ringed plover and this male tufted duck.

It was getting late and on the way back to the car I noticed lots of large light coloured snails. They're Roman snails and a protected species. I tore my pocket rolling on the ground togging them and lost my car keys. Luckily Mr Q wasn't gigging and brought my spare set.