Nest built on crack willow, about 3ft above the water, and 9ft from bank. River Great Ouse between Great Barford and Willington.
In the nest was one egg differently coloured and shaped, which was broken by accident, and was much incubated. Tried to reach nest by way of a fallen log lying in the water, but the log would not bear my weight, so I caught hold of the branch of another willow to swing myself across. This branch broke off and dropped me into three feet of water, and I clambered onto the tree on which was the nest, soaked to above the waist, also one arm. It was a bit of a struggle to get back to the bank again, but managed it without another ducking. Misty morning, rather cool, but cleared a bit later. Went with Ron on motorbike. Caught Carpet Moths, also. Latticed Heath; Small, Large and Greenveined White butterflies. Saw kingfishers (pair). One came and sat on bridge within ten feet of us for some minutes. Saw mute swans on wing and common sandpiper. Found sedge warbler nests with 5, 5, and 3 eggs respectively. River very high.
River Great Ouse, Bedfordshire, Whit Sunday, May 23rd.
In the nest was one egg differently coloured and shaped, which was broken by accident, and was much incubated. Tried to reach nest by way of a fallen log lying in the water, but the log would not bear my weight, so I caught hold of the branch of another willow to swing myself across. This branch broke off and dropped me into three feet of water, and I clambered onto the tree on which was the nest, soaked to above the waist, also one arm. It was a bit of a struggle to get back to the bank again, but managed it without another ducking. Misty morning, rather cool, but cleared a bit later. Went with Ron on motorbike. Caught Carpet Moths, also. Latticed Heath; Small, Large and Greenveined White butterflies. Saw kingfishers (pair). One came and sat on bridge within ten feet of us for some minutes. Saw mute swans on wing and common sandpiper. Found sedge warbler nests with 5, 5, and 3 eggs respectively. River very high.
River Great Ouse, Bedfordshire, Whit Sunday, May 23rd.
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