Birding and Fishing at the Elms, Rickmansworth

A Pike fishing match at the Elms Fishery in Rickmansworth offered great birding opportunities and threw up a couple of surprises. An exciting time of the year with many resident species preparing for the coming breeding season with winter visitors still present.
Species observed as follows;
Great-crested Grebe (pair), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan (pair), Canada Goose (pair), Mallard (6 including copulating pair), Mandarin (drake), Common Buzzard (1), Black-headed Gull (40), Common Gull (1), Stock Dove (4), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove (pair), Ring-necked Parakeet (pair), Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (2 drumming males), Grey Wagtail (1), Waxwing (c40 in trees calling), Wren (singing male), Dunnock (singing male), Robin (singing male), Blackbird, Goldcrest (singing male), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper (1), Magpie (pair constructing nest), Jackdaw, Carrion Crow (pair mobbed Buzzard), Starling (pair using nest hole), Chaffinch, Greenfinch (2 singing males), Goldfinch (singing male), Siskin (2).  
On the fishing front I caught a 6lb 6oz specimen that was returned unharmed back to the water.

                                                    Early morning view over the lake.