Birding by Train

Today, we treated ourselves to a day out. We took the "slow" (stopping) train to Fleet, where just  across the road from the station is Fleet Pond Nature Reserve. It is somewhere we have often observed briefly  through a train window, as the fast trains whizz through Fleet  station, but never explored on foot. We spent a very pleasant three hours walking the paths beside the pond and  reedbeds, and through  woodland, and  heathland. We didn't see a lot of wildlife; I suspect there are more birds there in spring/ summer and later in the  winter, but we did spot  a Tree Creeper and Nuthatch,  The blip shows some  Canada geese, Coots, Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall and other ducks on the pond at about 2pm, at the  end of our walk, when  the sun was already quite low in the sky.    
The pond and the neighbouring  smaller  one were created on the direction  of a bishop of Winchester in about 1200, to keep fish for  the table.   
It was good to get out in the fresh air and away from  worrying about care for my Mother. Later, the advisor  from my preferred Care Home phoned to confirm they can carry out an assessment / meeting with my Mum at the end of next week, which is very helpful.