Thank you to Sheila for the interesting written report.
Twelve members met at College Lake, near Tring, for a walk led by Denise. It was a chilly but sunny morning so perfect for a ramble. We set off around the lake stopping to look at the many water birds on the lake. We noted a large number of tufted ducks and a couple of swans. We made our way along the track to the agricultural machinery display and stopped for a browse. Maureen was able to tell us which machinery her father used when she was young. The area seems to have expanded and has toilets now. We could hear birds but the seed feeders were empty.
Following the path round the lake we came upon four wildlife trust employees/volunteers who had penned some Hebridean sheep. With their thick, long dark grey-black wool they were certainly well equipped for the cold weather. We learnt that they were being checked for condition. Those who needed attention were marked with an orange spray on their head, with yellow for those looking well. One sheep's curly horns had almost curled into the side of his head and he had a problem with his teeth. This animal will need monitoring. The sheep were bred by the Trust at their farm in Oxfordshire.
Continuing on round the end of the lake we saw cattle also helping to control the flora by grazing. We could see the penned sheep being released in the distance. They ran across the grass as if happy to be free in the sun. We felt a noticeable chill on this part of path as we were in shade so we hurried on back into sunshine.
Upon arriving back at the cafe end we looked through the telescopes provided and identified a group of wigeon. The painted mural of all the birds still looks remarkably fresh although it's 15 years old. There were also more of the sheep on the bank grazing here. We then hurried into the welcome warmth of the cafe for refreshments. It had been a lovely morning for the last walk of January.
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