I don't think either Sophie, Keith or myself were really enthusiastic about the walk, but we persevered and left home at around 9.30am. It was a cold and misty morning but I was hoping the sun would come out at some point during our walk. We left the car at the fishing lodge, crossed over the road and joined up with the circular route around the reservoir.
As usual, I set my MapMyWalk app to start and we set off at a fast pace. Before long my gloves were off and my coat open as we warmed up. There were a few people out walking their dogs or running and a couple of boats out on the water with men fishing. It was very still with no wind at all and the mist seemed to be hanging around.
We stopped at the dam for a welcome sip of water and a chocolatey bun. I took a couple of photos:
When we reached Brixworth Country Park we knew it was about six and a half miles to home but we all felt good with no real aches or pains. We saw lots of herons this morning and the birds out on the lake were very noisy indeed! As we made our way back towards the car park, the sun came out and it felt lovely and warm. Up above the sky was blue and it felt really good to be out in the fresh air on a Monday morning!
We made it to the car park and then it was decision time. We could either turn right and head back along the causeway to the car or we could cross the road and push on through the nature reserve to home.
Sophie said she wanted to walk home "rather than walk along the causeway" so we did! Now, there was no turning back!
We didn't see any pheasants at all today, just some smaller game birds and the odd robin. We stopped for another bun and some more water and just as we emerged from the woods to go over the fields towards home we saw a little Muntjac deer run across the path in front of us. What a lovely sight!
Once on the bridle path leading up to the village we knew we had it cracked. We'd done almost ten miles and estimated we had another mile to go before we reached home. Keith suddenly stopped and gazed out over the adjoining field and asked us if we could see an animal of some kind in the middle of the crops. It looked like a fox so we climbed up onto the bank and looked over the hedge to get a better view. It was still quite far away so we walked a bit further and realised it was a buzzard. It looked like it was in trouble and Keith clapped his hands and shouted but it didn't move.
A little way further we came to a gap in the hedge so we all went through and made our way over to it. The mud was unbelievable - it stuck to our boots so the going was quite hard, and after all our walking as well!
It was indeed a buzzard but not as big as the one Keith and Sophie had found the other week. It looked very scared and kept trying to fly away but it just somersaulted and fell back to the ground. It was very distressing to witness. Its feet were covered in mud and it kept trying to stretch out its wings but it looked like it was in trouble. There was no way we could have picked it up so we left it there and Sophie, after a lot of trying, finally got through to the RSPCA who said they would send an officer out to us.
It meant Sophie and I had to stay opposite and keep it in sight so Keith walked home and fetched his car back. We waited for almost an hour and then a van arrived with the RSPCA officer. He took out a towel and walked over the field to catch it (getting his immaculate shoes very muddy in the process).
When he came back with it he said that the outcome would not be a good one as it looked like the bird had maybe ingested some poison and that there was nothing wrong with his wings, he just was unable to fly. Sophie was quite upset about it, but at least we knew we had saved him from a long and lingering death out in the cold field or, worse, being eaten by a fox.
I think it's very strange that this is the second buzzard we've spotted in less than two weeks and both showing the same symptoms - strange head movements and an inability to fly. The RSPCA man said that the bird could have eaten a dead rat that had itself eaten poison but we're not so sure.
Keith drove us home and we went to get my car before returning and having a late lunch. Later in the day I had a lovely soak in a hot bath and I began to feel a bit stiff! The whole way round is next up on the agenda, but I'm not sure when we will be able to do it!
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