I am still feeling a bit run down from my long run at the weekend and so decided to walk rather than run. I took my camera again in hope of finding something interesting.

I walked up through the village towards Church End. Local kids have been building a snake from painted stones around the war memorial. There is a craze for leaving these stones for others to find, but someone kicked this off. It has really grown.

![Stones](https://images.esteem.app/DQmdsYzTSMKaEpCVKiMVhjbrXrWaY4Lz7Rfre2csKhUVQMp/DSCF0084.JPG)

I cut through to the Pix Brook to see what birds were about. An egret flew off before I could snap it, but this duck was just standing there.

![Duck](https://images.esteem.app/DQmeDEUqYHwtSm2wZrHj9qUtD49MnoGXpamdVmmioamqfyi/DSCF0087.JPG)

I also spotted some bird flying along the stream and it may have been this one I spotted further up. I think it is a grey wagtail. They seem to like hanging around water. This was on full zoom.

![Wagtail](https://images.esteem.app/DQmPKCA4G5tP8RMkb4sYLfACdXZvjQda84UKRd6tyrJUxfy/DSCF0089.JPG)

I crossed the footbridge at the station. From the top I looked down on an overgrown area. I do not know what this plant is, but it was quite spectacular from that viewpoint.

![Plant](https://images.esteem.app/DQmTAgNWDNe1vMgUup7mMypaTA7HkWz8JSpEHoavAvewdxh/DSCF0092.JPG)

I went under the bypass and into [Henlow Bridge Lakes](https://www.henlowbridgelakes.co.uk/). There are a couple of lakes there for fishing as well as a campsite. The latter is closed, but there were lots of people fishing. A stream runs round the edge of the site joining the Hiz (or possibly Purwell) to the Ivel. It had been overcast and rained a bit along there. I have seen geese there before, but there were not a lot of birds to be seen apart from some ducks. Not much insect life either, but I spotted this busy bee.

![Bee](https://images.esteem.app/DQmV5HSN4Qixfz9eTH3Vhme1qzEiDSdy2LaVZZQfwEYhgyi/DSCF0094.JPG)

Much harder to photograph were the many swifts swooping overhead.

![Swifts](https://images.esteem.app/DQmVEhe3Q52WvRparQB856fEoiW8LJmfYrmAE1hWqLMRYt5/DSCF0095.JPG)

There are lots of rushes in the stream.

![Rushes](https://images.esteem.app/DQmWBg333X4yNbwHfgZrJTyDTVavY4qVviLxo69G9aUaD7f/DSCF0097.JPG)

The lake has stations around the edge for anglers. Some had tents to shelter from the rain. They tend to have trolleys to get all their gear from the carpark.

![Lake](https://images.esteem.app/DQmbio6YwgYhbpz8TC9fsT8UcFi9fk5pUF2gBAHGC8jS4aQ/DSCF0099.JPG)

When I got back to the station I took the Hicca Way through the nature reserves. I saw a grey heron in the river, but it saw me at the same time and flew off before I could get a picture. There were few other people about, so it was quite peaceful.

![Woods](https://images.esteem.app/DQma7kL4cST9MSFd3n2PKQnhfrCBaSqZ8426SpCSuADRdhG/DSCF0100.JPG)

One area is known as the Old Moat as there is an area of water that used to partly surround a manor house that has long since disappeared. That is also full of rushes.

![Moat](https://images.esteem.app/DQmfQuKdn3k48T67sXBtkFi6eNSeP2y6WMzh6kj6Dd37zMJ/DSCF0102.JPG)

Of course I was looking out for kingfishers again, but still no sign of them. I am working on my observing skills and on making good use of the camera, so I hope to be ready when they do appear.

I walked about 7km today and was feeling worn out when I got back for a coffee. I was not too wet.

Have a good day.