Seaside Birding, Gibraltar Point

  This week we should've been in North Wales enjoying Starling murmurations, Choughs and maybe my first Hawfinch.Unfortunately due to my continued health problems, 3 days away and travelling so far deemed a bit unwise so instead we opted for a much closer trip.The plan was a night in Skegness including a day at Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve.

  When we arrived the visitor centre/cafe was yet to open and so the car park was only sparsely accommodated.Only a few cars with dog walkers getting ready for their walks (I still don't understand why dogs, even on leads should be allowed on Nature Reserves.Yes, I am a dog lover but not everyone adheres to the "on lead" rules as sadly proven at a local reserve where a Roe Deer was fatally wounded by an attack from a dog left OFF the lead.RIP Daphne :()

  Anyway back to the Point (Gibraltar that is).A couple of Little Egrets flew over us as we made our way to the Jackson Marsh hide.

  Jackdaws called overhead and Magpies and Mistle Thrushes foraged in the fields.

 Mistle Thrush

  The lagoon was full of bird life.Lapwings, Teal, Wigeon, Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwits and Curlew were all on show.

  A cacophony of sound from the sky signalled the arrival of hundreds of Brent Geese as they wiffled down into the nearby field.These were soon followed by a skein of White-fronted Geese, PInk-footed Geese and then a small group of 14 Barnacle Geese, waterfowl heaven. :)

  Brent Geese

  White -fronted Geese

  Pink-footed Geese

  Barnacle Geese

  The walk back to the car produced sightings of Skylarks and Corn Buntings and another Little Egret in a muddy ditch searching for food.

  We then headed off to Skegness seafront to find food of our own. :) After lunch we checked in to our B&B (an absolute bargain night away for £35) and then returned to the reserve at around 3.30pm in hope of some Raptor sightings along the saltmarsh.Linnets and Reed Buntings alighted the bushed around us but the Raptors were proving harder to find.

  A very distant shape emerged from the late afternoon haze and stayed very distant.I was sure it was Harrier-esque and our new friend David agreed.He had come over from Nottingham for the day and then the 67yr old told us how since his wife's death 12yrs ago he travels the country by train looking for Birds Of Prey.I mentioned the RSPB Raptorwatch at the Dee Estuary in a couple of weeks time and he was very interested in attending so we may see him again there.

  A shout of delight "Barn Owl" came from David as we all turned to see the beautiful owl fly by along the tributary before disappearing out of sight into the next field.It made the old man very happy, David was delighted too ;) He then left to catch his bus as we hung around but no more sightings bar the Brent Geese and Shelducks on the marsh.

  Barn Owl (photo by Majella Fox)

  The wildlife sightings hadn't actually ended though as while driving from the reserve car park I screamed "Stop the car, Kingfisher!" No, it's not my pet name for my partner Majella ;) but on the roadside pond a Kingfisher on a partly submerged branch.I started getting out of the car to try to photograph it but the only other car in the reserve car park decided it was time for them to leave so we had to move our car further off the road to let them pass by which time the Kingfisher had said Goodnight and vanished.

  I got back in the car, said some choice words about the people in the other car and then another 100 yards along the lane shouted "Stop the car, Fox!" This is actually my partner's surname but that's not what I meant lol.A stunning Fox was peering from around the field hedge.I managed a couple of photos before it checked me out and trotted off down the field edge and across the road, a real life Fox-trot ;) 

  

  All in all it was a great day away with plenty of wildlife to see, especially after a housebound January due to my health issues.If you head to Skegness for the seaside make sure you go South from the seafront and check out this fantastic reserve at Gibraltar Point :)
  Sunset at Gibraltar Point.(photo by Majella Fox)

http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/gibraltar-point 

http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Many thanks again for reading my blog :) 

Beyond 30 Days Wild - Avenue Washlands Open Day

  Well the official 30 Days Wild with the Wildlife Trusts may be over but like many others we will continue to get out and try to do wild activities to keep our connection with Nature and to help my mind and body heal.
 
  On Saturday I was kindly invited by Stewart Abbott, a fellow Hen Harrier campaigner and a volunteer with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to attend their open day at Avenue Washlands Reserve near Chesterfield. This place was once one of the most polluted in Europe but with the help of EU funding and lots of hard work by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and its volunteers the area is now a fantastic reserve and haven for wildlife.
http://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/the-avenue-washlands

  We had hoped to get there earlier than our 11.30am arrival time so unfortunately had missed the checking of the Mammal traps which produced Voles and Mice and also missed the amazing opportunity to see a Kingfisher up close as one was caught and ringed at the reserve.
  Stewart was out and about doing a guided walk when we arrived so we had a chat with his partner Lynne and checked out the stalls.Derbyshire Wildlife Trust(where we met Louise, another Hen Harrier hero), RSPB, Beekeepers Association had information stands and there was a chance to build a bug hotel or bird nest box.In the marquee you coudl buy plants or do the Tombola which among other things I won the Concise Moth Guide on :)
  We then headed out on to the reserve to have our first ever walk around Avenue Washlands.
A few views around Avenue Washlands.

People enjoying the Pond dipping despite the rain.

River Rother creates amazing suitable habitat for Water Voles.

  As you can see the July weather wasn't great but there were sunny intervals between the heavy rain showers.
  Canada Geese were relaxing among the Buttercups.

  Male Reed Bunting

  There were also quite a few Yellowhammers, Linnets, Swallows, Goldfinches, Greenfinch, Bullfinches, House Martins and a Kestrel. 21 species seen in the end during our walk.
  When the sun did come out between the dark clouds, insects took full advantage with the numerous wildflowers becoming a hive of activity.
  I was determined to find a Moth and finally found this Clouded Border hidden in a hedgerow along the Sidings.

 
  In the warmth of the sun Butterflies once again took to the wing.
Meadow brown

Speckled Wood

 Large Skipper

Ringlet

  With having to be up at 4.30am Sunday morning we were unable to stay for the Moth trapping later in the evening but had already had a good day at the reserve.
  Many thanks again to Stewart & Lynne and the rest of the staff and volunteers that made it a great day and had lots of adults and children engaging with wildlife.
  We will be back :)

30 Days Wild:Day 26 - A Walk Along The River Wye

                                                 











  It was our second day in Rhayader and despite the heavy rain it didn't dampen our spirits(too much) and so we left the farm to walk along the River Wye into Rhayader to get a pub meal.It is a gorgeous walk along the river surrounded by trees and bird song and I hoped to spot 3 species of bird.

  We had not been at the riverside for more than a couple of minutes before we saw a bounce of white under some dark foliage on the opposite bank.It was of course one of my favourite birds, the Dipper.1 of 3 :)
Not a great photo as couldn't get any closer without going wading ;)
Spot the Dipper

  After watching it search for larvae under the surface for a few minutes we continued on.A flash of brilliant blue announced the arrival and departure of the Kingfisher.Species 2 of 3 :) It sped past low over the river of nothing short of Mach 4 so no chance of any photos.
  Seconds later movement was spotted on the pebbles opposite us and Species 3 of 3 was sighted.Another stunning bird, the Grey Wagtail.

  So I was very happy to get 3 out of 3 for the species I wanted to find but I didn't expect to get a fourth.Two birds flying from a branch looked to be catching flies and then returning further into the tree.We managed to edge closer and watched as the 2 Spotted Flycatchers danced in the air plucking flies in flight.

   A fantastic end to our walk into Rhayader and it was followed by great food at the Crown Inn, the beer wasn't bad too :)