The birds here at Arne seem to think its spring already! I am waking up to a lovely morning chorus of great tits and blue tits! Walking around the reserve goldcrests and Dartford warblers can also be heard singing their hearts out in the mild “Spring” weather. Soon the woodpeckers will also be heard drumming on the trees.
Great spotted woodpecker, Tom Marshall RSPB Images
The woodlark is a joy to hear in the mornings, check out the RSPB Bird Id to hear the song of these wonderful birds, its a easy song to learn!
Click the link to find out more and hear the song: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/w/woodlark/index.aspx
Some birds have already been seen checking out nesting places and so why not come on down to our “Nutty about nest boxes” event here at Arne on the 18th February and make yourself a nest box to take home and put up in your garden. http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-290124
If you really love Arne, why not introduce a friend to this wonderful reserve with a free guided walk on Saturday 4th February. Meet outside the Visitor Centre at 10am or 1pm to have a great day out and learn something new! http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-290119
Just a quick reminder that Radipole Lake visitor centre is closed for improvements. The reserve and hide are still open and events are still running throughout the work period. I am very excited to see what the centre will look like when it re-opens!
Are you hearing woodlarks already too Hannah? Had a report of one spotted on the Surrey heaths last week.
Yes they where heard over the weekend.
Thanks Hannah, have only just got your blog up on my computer otherwise would have mentioned it today. Only had the seahorse blog as the latest until 10 mins ago! So pleased to see the SEO today, Coombe Heath, 3.50pm - rubbish photos but still very excited! What a lovely chorus you wake up to.
Have just fathomed that I got hub to bookmark the blog page when we got the computer back instead of home page! Glad I've worked it out or would never have seen another blog - d'oh!
Glad you got the Owl today Pudweena - it is pretty amazing- how long was it there for? where there many others watching it with you?
Bet hub found it,the same one who bookmarked the wrong page,naughty naughty.
No, hub didn't find it Sooty - I spotted it first! - hub was busy photographing bird miles away in front of the Middlebere hide. To be fair to him though, it was me who told him which page to bookmark which happened to be the wrong page!
We were on our own when I first spotted SEO at 3.50pm and was flying in front of the first seat a short distance away for about 5 mins, then disappeared for a while and we thought that was it but then we spotted again quite a way away towards Middlebere Channel over on the left when we were joined by another couple who then also watched with us for about 5 mins or so but then disappeared far left behind trees, seemed to be near shoreline from where we were.
Just fantastic, have now seen Tawny, Barn and Short Eared Owls and a year ago had never seen a wild Owl!
Ha Ha just a little joke pudweena,thought I would give hub a boost.
as its spring nikon4pete might come out of hibernation and visit Arne...:-)
Oh hello Pete - nice to hear from you :-) hope you are well and hope we miss the snow at the weekend - the Darties certainly need a snow-free winter this year, saw one on a Wednesday walk a while back - bitterly cold at the moment though. Mind you, a lovely log burner and coffee machine in the VC ...:-)
thanks Pudweena..been in hibernation but back for now..put some photographs on the forum as its been quiet lately..dont foget there is a Picture competion..Landscapes,people and wildlife..:-)