A Couple of Hours at Lemsford Springs

12th November 2025

Time for another visit to see how the site is developing as winter approaches. I didn't have to wait long before the first of the usual suspects appeared, a Grey Wagtail, and posed nicely on one of the Kingfisher perches.

Teal were now starting to return and there were four today, thanks to Ian Conn for the count, and here is one of the newly moulted males.

Stock Doves are very common at Lemsford but you have to be quick, as they come down to drink but only stay for a few seconds. Just look at those pastel colours.

The resident male Muntjac put in an appearance....................

.......................and a Water Rail. The Water Rail is the rarest bird here, but can be very secretive and elusive. But today it ventured out by the Sallow for a few minutes before scurrying back to cover, never to be seen again.

Thank goodness for dead trees and I think every reserve should have one, as they provide great posing perches for Herons and Buzzards.

It tried to hide in a leafy Alder but I managed to find a small tunnel through the foliage.

But the star of the show today was this Green Sandpiper.

After half an hour feeding on freshwater shrimps it decided it was bath time and the first step in the process was to gently sink into the water and have a soak.

Then you submerge your head to get that wet.....................

....................and then go for it, submerging your whole body to ensure that every feather is soaking wet.

Then fly to the bank to get those wings dry.....................

..........................and have a preen.

Well another great visit to Lemsford and nice to see Rose and Ian.