If It's Monday Then It Must Be Barnwell (And Raining).

Otters were the reason to once again to take the well travelled road over to Barnwell CP, the now all too familiar rain did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm. Settling down for the long run in the Kingfisher Hide I was struck by just how quiet the lake and its surrounds were and I began my vigil with fairly low expectations.

Another poor Otter shot.

The regular single Dabchick had been joined by two associates but they had the lake pretty much to themselves until a family party of surprisingly noisy Mute Swans arrived. About twenty minutes after my arrival I caught a brief glimpse of two otters and although they did a very credible disappearing act the sighting gave me grounds for hope. Another bloke arrived soon after the otters had gone and both of us sat in hope of further sightings as the waiting began. Patience certainly turned out to be the order of the day as several hours passed. Two brief sightings of Kingfisher helped to relief the gloom while a succession of passerines passed through. Fairly persistent and often quite heavy rain stopped me from going for a wander and during this period only a couple of voles scampering between log piles provided any mammalian interest.

Robin and Nuthatch

Eventually the rain stopped and the sun put in a welcome appearance followed very soon after by an Otter. It was in view on and off for about ten minutes though on the few occasions it stopped for any length of time I was unable to get a decent picture. Happily watching otters is always more fun than photographing them so I wasn't too disappointed. After our welcome visitor had gone on its way I made my excuses and left allowing some time for a quick walk around the park. Nearby floodwater held numbers of gulls and Lapwings and also a few herons towering over them.

Blue Tit and Dabchicks

Despite the sunshine I couldn't find any late insects and suspect that a cold northerly wind may have played a part. It's easy to write the dragonfly season off but there could still be some of those tough little Common Darters lurking about somewhere, hopefully I'll find them!

Rain soaked Mallard and Grey Heron.