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...well, very briefly it did.
I paid my first ever visit to Cotswold Water Park yesterday; its name is a bit of a misnomer. Its actually a collection of more than 100 flooded gravel pits, rather than what I would imagine a Water Park to be; not a flume in sight.
My 'Where To Watch Birds' book gave its usual very vague directions, and said to head for lake 36 as a good place to start*. Not very easy without a map, so after a little to-ing and fro-ing we eventually settled...
I paid my first ever visit to Cotswold Water Park yesterday; its name is a bit of a misnomer. Its actually a collection of more than 100 flooded gravel pits, rather than what I would imagine a Water Park to be; not a flume in sight.
My 'Where To Watch Birds' book gave its usual very vague directions, and said to head for lake 36 as a good place to start*. Not very easy without a map, so after a little to-ing and fro-ing we eventually settled...
Took a detour on the way home from work tonight onto Bristol downs, to look for the local peregrines. It's only a mile or so from our flat but despite a few attempts the only time we'd previously managed to see one was with the help of Bristol Ornithological Club and their telescopes. We were on our own tonight!
No sign at first, but we were soon joined by either a very scruffy birder or one of the local winos. A brief conversation determined he was both, and after he moved on to...
No sign at first, but we were soon joined by either a very scruffy birder or one of the local winos. A brief conversation determined he was both, and after he moved on to...
Spent a couple of hours at RSPB Greylake, another reserve on the Somerset levels. No waders, but noisy coot families, sedge warblers, linnets and blue tits, on the way to the poshest hide I've ever seen. From the hide, little egret, heron, swallows, ducks, little grebe, a pair of distant buzzards, a charm of goldfinches, swifts, house martins and a tree with a hundred starlings in it! Top spots were my first ever water vole, and a stoat.
Unlike Ham Wall, not sure this reserve is worth...
Unlike Ham Wall, not sure this reserve is worth...
I was visiting relatives in Dorset on Saturday and so took the opportunity for an evening visit to RSPB Arne in the hope of spotting, or at least hearing, a nightjar, a bird I've not encountered before.
We got there a couple of hours before dusk and so headed for the Shipstal trail. First spot was a pair of G S Woodpeckers, an adult and a juvenile. Past the farm with swallows overhead and a bathing greenfinch, and a field full of Sika deer with little babies. Not a lot on show through...
We got there a couple of hours before dusk and so headed for the Shipstal trail. First spot was a pair of G S Woodpeckers, an adult and a juvenile. Past the farm with swallows overhead and a bathing greenfinch, and a field full of Sika deer with little babies. Not a lot on show through...
Our much anticipated (by me at least) trip to Lundy was a resounding success! The weather was lovely, the island spectacular, and the wildlife plentiful! (* denotes a 'ticked' species)
Day one began with an 8am departure aboard the M.S. Oldenberg, from which we spotted dozens of manx shearwaters*, in flight and also riding on the waves. Herring gulls outnumbered Lesser Black Backs, with a single gannet* amongst them. The crossing was relatively rough, but it was still a surprise when...
Day one began with an 8am departure aboard the M.S. Oldenberg, from which we spotted dozens of manx shearwaters*, in flight and also riding on the waves. Herring gulls outnumbered Lesser Black Backs, with a single gannet* amongst them. The crossing was relatively rough, but it was still a surprise when...
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A nice report Stuart,Common...
Despite the confusion...