Leader David Hart
It was a beautiful Autumn morning, a chill in the air (as in ‘how many layers should I put on?’) with the promise of warmer sunshine to follow.
There were twenty attendees, including three visitors and one of our members who had hired one of the motorized buggies that are available. The buggy proved a great success, readers please note!
David Hart took us on an anticlockwise version of the Wetland Trail from which we could overlook grassland, ditches and pools - the different habitats on the Reserve. Barely had we set off than Heather (note taker for the morning, thank you!) had recorded house sparrow, moorhen, crow, wood pigeon, jay, stock dove, magpie, dunnock and green woodpecker. On a large mass of flowering ivy some beady eyes spotted hornets which the photographers amongst us attempted to ‘capture’. It must be mentioned that we saw wonderful displays of fruits, hips and berries on our walk, including spindle, hawthorn, wayfaring-tree and wild rose.
On our way to Nettley’s Hide we recorded nuthatch, bullfinch, swan, robin and goldfinch. From the Hide we could appreciate the current low water levels but we could easily see the flocks of both Canada and Greylag geese. With the kind help of those members with telescopes, we could also confirm sightings of heron, lapwing, mallard and teal. On a post, we spotted a rather pale buzzard which had been noted previously by visitors. Before the next hide, we saw jackdaw, rook, green sandpiper and kestrel before we settled down to enjoy two (or was it even three?) marsh harriers flying low over the far side of the Reserve. Magic.
On a sunny stretch, butterflies posed for us – speckled wood, comma and red admiral. As lunch called, wheatear and chaffinch were seen and for the lucky dawdlers, a trio of tits (long-tail, blue and great) together with willow warbler were clearly seen in a bare branched tree.
Many of us lunched in the sunshine overlooking the Brooks, enjoying the view (and a kite overhead). A lovely morning. Thanks to David for his excellent leadership and to all those in the group.
Gill Hance