A slow walk on the footpaths through Daisy Nook Country Park

Last week we headed to Daisy Nook Country Park, just a little over five miles or so from where we live.

A few days previously we had made the trip to Pennington Flash, which you can check out at this link. Although Daisy Nook is pretty local to us it’s a while since we last visited. It was good to visit despite the weather being less than ideal.

We headed out partly for the fresh air and partly on a small mission. We wanted to see if the Water Rail that had been reported there might give us a moment in front of the lens.

The picture of the Water Rail below is an image from the web and not a picture I took.

Damp and grey

It was a pretty familiar February morning, damp, grey, and a bit washed out. I suppose it was the kind of light that never promises much for photography. Despite that it’s always best to set off with optimism.

Sometimes half the attraction and appeal of going out with a camera is hoping to see something, that you actually know may never even appear.

After leaving the car in the quite decent car parking area we set off on a slow wander around before making our way to the spot where the Water Rail had previously been seen.

We looked, and looked and looked again. We saw Moorhens, Mallards, a couple of Grebes, a distant Cormorant eating an unfeasibly large fish and a young and graceful Heron. But did we see the Water Rail …er no, not a sign.

It was another reminder that nature doesn’t perform on cue just because you’ve shown up with a camera.

And maybe that’s fine. Perhaps the photograph isn’t always the point. Perhaps the simple act of walking — on your own, or with someone whose company you enjoy — is more than enough.

In any case it’s an excuse to head back there on another day, finish off with another decent hot dog and coffee in the cafe at the car park and maybe write another blog post when we finally (maybe) see the Water Rail.