This isn't actually a spiffing image, but I had a bad hair day, and you have no idea just what that condition does to my psyche! Of course, it could also have been the fact that the camera setting was not as it should have been.... ^=^ I've enclosed a teeny cutout from yesterday for Susan (Blush) - so there you go sweetie. Just for you! ^=^ And if it's any consolation, I didn't see it either until blown up on the computer! ^=^ Back to image. At the base of the hills on the right are the reed beds. It's where the majority of the smaller birds nest. Coots and Moorhens get a lot of much needed protection from the gulls in the reeds, paramount for the chicks safety. The geese and swans use the islands for nesting, not needing so much protection. I've yet to see a gull brave (or stupid) enough to try to take a swan or goose chick. Actually because of it's proximity to the ocean, just across the road, food it at a premium for all so that sort of gull behaviour isn't all the common here, although being the opportunists that they are, the reed beds are still an added blessing for the 'teenies'. Ducks are about the only bird not in permanent residence here. There are always a few, but not in the number one would expect for such a prime area. I imagine that might be down to so many of the larger feathered persons around. Considering the great numbers and diversity here, the residents are remarkably placid, even in the mating season. This has to be partly down to swans and geese having lifetime partners and their nesting places already established. But even those newly in the market for a mate don't make the fuss seen on other lakes. Course, they are Cornish....laid back like the rest of this county! The only slightly bolshy chaps here the other day were the signets and even they didn't really have their heart in it, one particularly sassy Coot giving one of them a real talking to! Way over the other side of the lake is a miniscule white dot among the trees. That's the Egret I mentioned the other day. Alongside it were 3 or 4 Cormorants. Swans, Geese and even the odd Coot are always to be seen in the ocean, but I've not seen Cormorants on the lake before, and certainly not roosting beside an Egret. The only feathered person missing the other day was the resident Heron, and he was probably hiding there somewhere. He splits his time between this lake, the lake down in Par park, and Imery's lake. He also seems to be alone. I've seen him for a number of years but never with a partner. Enough rambling. ^=^ Thank you for taking the time to look. ^=^