Sunday, 29 July 2018

Beddington Farm - Ruff Weather!


The weather has taken a turn for the worst with some heavy rain forecast for today. There was only going to be one place to be and that was on the Farm. The site is definitely the worst for wear these days but still maintains its place as the premier site in Surrey (VC). To take your eyes off it at any point is always a risky business!

I negotiated the assault course making it to the hide before the rain started. There were many Black-headed Gulls on the North Lake and a scan through them with the prospect of a Mediterranean Gull lurking proved fruitless. 
The rain was soon in full flow and a Ruff was spied doing a circuit of the North Lake before flying south out of sight. 
The numbers of ducks should begin to pick up over the next few months. A Tufted brood was noted on the lake. A few Gadwall dropped in presumably having left the south lake and Shoveler seemed content swimming around in the rain.
As time moved on the urge grew to brave the elements and wander up to 100 Acre. Jim’s bed has recently held Green and Common Sandpipers and there was always the prospect of a new addition on the bed.

The rain did its best to halt my progress creating a greasy mud surface round the lake and proposed area of wet grassland. Jim’s bed held Common, Green Sandpipers and Lapwing and the Ruff. By now the rain was winning the battle and I headed back to the lake before departing for the day.
What a contrast in weather but the rain was well overdue!

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