Leon and I had booked onto a ‘Wildlife Walk’ today but, unfortunately, he was unable to make it due to other commitments. The weather, being rather inclement, almost decided that I would not go either as I thought that there would probably not be much about. It seemed to brighten up as the morning went on so I thought that I would give it a try. I arrived at about half past twelve, giving me a half-hours’ leeway and ‘mooch’ time. I checked in and went immediately to the Observatory. I a glad that I did because the Avocets were on the long island right in front me! I learned later that Mrs Avocet has been seen ‘scraping’ on the island, a pointer towards laying? All around were birds sitting on nests, surely the Mute Swans’ eggs must be about to hatch by now, she’s been at it for ages.
At one o’clock I was in position to meet the rest of the group and the guide. Pleasantries over, we made a move through the ‘Wildside’ area. This is the first time that I have started a ‘walk’ going in this direction. As usual, the guide really knew his stuff and kept up an almost constant narration as we moved about, stopping only to answer questions that were being fired at him at very short intervals. What I found particularly interesting was the way he pointed out the flowers that were now breaking into flower all over the site. Many were the names that I recognised but not the actual flowers. Next year I will ‘bone-up’ on flowers in an attempt to be ready for the spring ‘explosion’.
It was by now raining on and off every twenty minutes or so, I had put my lightweight coat on before we started as there was a bit of wind getting up. I was glad that I had, as it was quite chilly as well. The wind was keeping most of the small birds well down in the undergrowth, watching carefully rewarded me with some god views of some birds that would normally been out in the open.
Once at the hide we were sheltered and soon warmed up, it was just a shame that there wasn’t too much about for the guide to point out. As the group started to make its way out of the hide, one of the chaps who had been there before we arrived pointed out a small bird to me. It moved very quickly along a reedbank on the ‘Grazing Marsh’, my very first sighting of a Hobby! Perhaps he was hunting for one of the dragonflies that had been pointed out to us by our guide. I really must learn more about the insects as well!
The ‘walk’ being over, most people went to the restaurant to get a hot drink but I went straight on to the other side of the site. So far I had been disappointed with the number of birds that I had seen. On reflection, I should not have been surprised as the wind was pretty strong and I had already noticed that they were well down in the cover. Very few birds were actually flying about although the House Martins and Swifts seemed to be having a whale of a time. There could not have been many insects about so the little birds just appeared to be really enjoying themselves! Certainly their aerobatic displays were marvellous to watch! Several time I thought that they were about to crash into me.
Another great sighting! From the ‘WWT’ hide I saw another (the same?) Peregrine. The chap in the hide with me said that he had seen it many times and was now a frequent visitor to the site. I told him about the Hobby that I had seen. “Seen nearly every day, now!” he said.
I walked around the ‘Sheltered Lagoon’ and, by watching in the undergrowth, was able to see quite a few of our small friends moving about although hardly any of them were singing. One exception was a Blackcap who was belting out his particular number, kindly leading me to him so that I could add his name to ‘birds seen’ for the day!
At the ‘Wader Scrape’ hide I was pleased to see that the Avocets had forsaken the long island in front of the Observatory and were now feeding on the exposed mud of the scrape. There was very little else about though, perhaps the Avocets are more used to conditions reminiscent of the East coast of our country?
Moving to the ‘Peacock Tower’ I spent most of the rest of the afternoon just watching this and that. The wind by now was really strong, all the birds on the main lake were facing into the wind and paddling like Billy-o, some not making very much headway. One of the chaps in the tower mentioned that a Hobby and a Peregrine had been sighted earlier on in the day. I bit my tongue, struggling not to tell him that they were now, apparently, two-a-penny in these parts!
On the way out I popped into the Observatory for one last look about. On the fence running along the ‘Wildside’ area were a family of (10) baby Starlings, obviously on their first foray away from the nest. They were sheltered from the, now subsiding, wind by some large shrubs and trees although they still had to hold on tightly. The parents were flying backwards and forwards with a never-ending supply of food. With ten mouths to feed it makes you marvel at how they manage!
I noticed, on the wall, a list of birds seen in the last month. It would appear that Hobbies and Peregrines ARE two-a penny!
I did not stop at ‘the office’ as it was getting late and so made m way home. What had started out as an unpromising day had turned out to be very enjoyable!
BIRDS SEEN: House Martin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Pochard, Pied Wagtail, Common Tern, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Reed Warbler, Ring Necked Parakeet, Swift, Great Crested Grebe, Sand Martin, Avocet, Canada Goose, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Heron, Ruddy Duck, Robin, Greylag Goose, Blackbird, Gadwall, Long Tailed Tit, Blackcap, Hobby, Herring Gull, Reed Bunting, Wren, Peregrine, Swallow, Shoveller, Starling, Whooper Swan.
At one o’clock I was in position to meet the rest of the group and the guide. Pleasantries over, we made a move through the ‘Wildside’ area. This is the first time that I have started a ‘walk’ going in this direction. As usual, the guide really knew his stuff and kept up an almost constant narration as we moved about, stopping only to answer questions that were being fired at him at very short intervals. What I found particularly interesting was the way he pointed out the flowers that were now breaking into flower all over the site. Many were the names that I recognised but not the actual flowers. Next year I will ‘bone-up’ on flowers in an attempt to be ready for the spring ‘explosion’.
It was by now raining on and off every twenty minutes or so, I had put my lightweight coat on before we started as there was a bit of wind getting up. I was glad that I had, as it was quite chilly as well. The wind was keeping most of the small birds well down in the undergrowth, watching carefully rewarded me with some god views of some birds that would normally been out in the open.
Once at the hide we were sheltered and soon warmed up, it was just a shame that there wasn’t too much about for the guide to point out. As the group started to make its way out of the hide, one of the chaps who had been there before we arrived pointed out a small bird to me. It moved very quickly along a reedbank on the ‘Grazing Marsh’, my very first sighting of a Hobby! Perhaps he was hunting for one of the dragonflies that had been pointed out to us by our guide. I really must learn more about the insects as well!
The ‘walk’ being over, most people went to the restaurant to get a hot drink but I went straight on to the other side of the site. So far I had been disappointed with the number of birds that I had seen. On reflection, I should not have been surprised as the wind was pretty strong and I had already noticed that they were well down in the cover. Very few birds were actually flying about although the House Martins and Swifts seemed to be having a whale of a time. There could not have been many insects about so the little birds just appeared to be really enjoying themselves! Certainly their aerobatic displays were marvellous to watch! Several time I thought that they were about to crash into me.
Another great sighting! From the ‘WWT’ hide I saw another (the same?) Peregrine. The chap in the hide with me said that he had seen it many times and was now a frequent visitor to the site. I told him about the Hobby that I had seen. “Seen nearly every day, now!” he said.
I walked around the ‘Sheltered Lagoon’ and, by watching in the undergrowth, was able to see quite a few of our small friends moving about although hardly any of them were singing. One exception was a Blackcap who was belting out his particular number, kindly leading me to him so that I could add his name to ‘birds seen’ for the day!
At the ‘Wader Scrape’ hide I was pleased to see that the Avocets had forsaken the long island in front of the Observatory and were now feeding on the exposed mud of the scrape. There was very little else about though, perhaps the Avocets are more used to conditions reminiscent of the East coast of our country?
Moving to the ‘Peacock Tower’ I spent most of the rest of the afternoon just watching this and that. The wind by now was really strong, all the birds on the main lake were facing into the wind and paddling like Billy-o, some not making very much headway. One of the chaps in the tower mentioned that a Hobby and a Peregrine had been sighted earlier on in the day. I bit my tongue, struggling not to tell him that they were now, apparently, two-a-penny in these parts!
On the way out I popped into the Observatory for one last look about. On the fence running along the ‘Wildside’ area were a family of (10) baby Starlings, obviously on their first foray away from the nest. They were sheltered from the, now subsiding, wind by some large shrubs and trees although they still had to hold on tightly. The parents were flying backwards and forwards with a never-ending supply of food. With ten mouths to feed it makes you marvel at how they manage!
I noticed, on the wall, a list of birds seen in the last month. It would appear that Hobbies and Peregrines ARE two-a penny!
I did not stop at ‘the office’ as it was getting late and so made m way home. What had started out as an unpromising day had turned out to be very enjoyable!
BIRDS SEEN: House Martin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Pochard, Pied Wagtail, Common Tern, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Reed Warbler, Ring Necked Parakeet, Swift, Great Crested Grebe, Sand Martin, Avocet, Canada Goose, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Heron, Ruddy Duck, Robin, Greylag Goose, Blackbird, Gadwall, Long Tailed Tit, Blackcap, Hobby, Herring Gull, Reed Bunting, Wren, Peregrine, Swallow, Shoveller, Starling, Whooper Swan.
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