A Quiet Corner of Startops

There was little bird activity above the Marsworth reservoir as I walked past several anglers relaxing hopefully beside twin lines by the side of the path from Tringford reservoir. Upon the surface there were the usual mallard, coots, and pigeons overflying. So I walked beyond and turned towards Startops. Spotting a flurry of small birds flitting between the bank-based trees and the bushes at the water’s edge in the corner, I watched for a while standing, then walked slowly towards the steps and sat just below the bank side on the top step, and the birds ignored me.

I stayed shooting either side of my vantage point as sparrows and pied wagtails flitted back and forth, often coming quite close to where I sat, before deciding that maybe I could represent danger and flying back from whence they came or looping out over the water and landing just beyond me on the steep banking. They were feeding well on various fly species, but since I never saw them swallow, I presume these were for their offspring possibly in a nest either in the hawthorn or other trees to my left where the branches offered shelter. I have only rarely seen the pigeons come down to the water’s edge, but one did, and foraged in the same area the wagtails and sparrows were frequenting.

Considering sparrows are now so rarely seen, perhaps the conservationists should study this habitat, as they have been flying across this corner for all the years I have visited these three reservoirs; something must suit them.

Marsworth Steam Rally

Speaking to Bob Menzies in the week I learned that Marsworth was holding a Steam Traction Rally beyond Startops End Reservoir, on the Sunday, so I met up with Bob, and we walked around Marsworth lake chatting. We both watched from reservoir rim, then Bob walked back and I entered the field.

To begin with, the sun had gone in, but for a short while during my visit, the sun did come out, I took a look around and even managed a short spell on Kevin Flint’s engine, as my namesake Rod, the MC,  had been having little luck getting the public to take a ride around the arena.

Although I was careful to avoid getting my clothes dirty, my hands did need a thorough clean, but that was remedied by a visit to the temporary loos at the edge of the field.

There was a surprising number of visitors attending and in addition to the traction engines there was a display of various ancient tractors and a bouncy castle for the kids, and although I left when it started spitting with rain, in fact the weather held off well and it seemed the crowd thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

I went back to Tringford reservoir after an hour or so and chatted some more before the cold wind got the better of me, and I returned home.