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Campfield Marsh. Now we come to the 3rd part of the Blog, having dealt with accommodation issues. We can start to describe the main features of the area which is after all what you will be coming to enjoy, be it Spring, Summer or Winter. In the case of birders, winter in the Solway area is of particular...

Anvil Cloud over the Solway estuary. We've definitely passed the Equinox: 12 hours of 'sunlight', 12hours of dark – the jury's still out on the sunlight bit! The equinoctial gales started right on time in the form of the tail-end of Hurricane Nadine which definitely stirred the...

The following images suggest some of the additional things your sharp eyes could see on a visit to the Campfield Marsh Reserve - from mid July to late August. BIRDS House Sparrow in a crevice of the barn wall near the car park . A juvenile Woodpecker possibly using the farm bird feeders...

Early June - Summer has officially arrived … monsoons of rain; tornados of wind; flooding that would frighten even Noah; caravans and tents being swept away; agricultural shows being flattened; seaside promenades under three feet of water and lashed by waves. Hello! but we don’t mind, we’re...

This Spring and early Summer have been a real mixed bag - especially this last week! One minute, glorious sunshine and the next torrential rain and bitter winds. One hardly knows what to do! Have turned into a softie really - should have taken it easier on the cupcakes, blue icing and party sized Eton...

The short answer to that is, “Yes” - so don’t expect any more bardic utterances from me! Evening view across the wetlands from the raised bower. Although it is still Spring, here on the Campfield wetlands, today it felt like the middle of June: the wind had dropped and the...

Campfield Marsh at high tide. 11 4 12 Spring is a restless time: weather pulling all kinds of tricks; counting the cost of last winter; assessing the possibilities of the coming Summer; old visitors still lingering on; new arrivals coming unexpectedly - and that’s just the birds … you...

Winter is back again - view across Meadow Pools towards Skiddaw 2nd April Great White Egret is still on the Reserve. Here seen fishing early morning on Saltmarsh Pool. Pink-footed geese are still on the estuary. These were seen on farm pastures near the Reserve's boundary fence. ...

Everything is heading north with the vernal equinox and the warm weather too. 12 Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and a Ruff have descended on the Reserve and can be seen feeding and preening regularly on the now drying-up floodwater on the lefthand -side of North Plain lonning. On the Meadow Pools there...

'Doing the Campfield walk, Hey!' The Great White Egret arrived at Campfield on 1 st November 2011, just in time for the Guy Fawkes celebrations. We began to wonder how long this rare vagrant would stay - and lo and behold, miracle of miracles, it spent Christmas with us. People travelled from...

Haymaking has started - end of July 18th July After early rain the sun came out making it very warm and humid, Sunshine and showers continued for the rest of the day. Insects and butterflies were in abundance which was great as it was the start of the 'Big Butterfly Count' for Butterfly...

7th July Norman reported a good collection of Waders and Gulls in the vicinity of Saltmarsh Pool today: 8 Black-tailed Godwits in Summer plumage, 420 Black-headed Gulls, 14 Redshank and 1 Adult Mediterranean Gull. The warm humid conditions brought out insects and good numbers of Swallows hawking after...

Photo Diary 15th to 30th June 2011 Bird Seed crop - Phacelia , Oats and Sunflowers 15th June Barn Owl busily hunting along saltmarsh. This is the second Barn Owl of a pair who are hunting along the marsh each evening now. Herons, possibly a family, scouring the shoreline...

A photo dairy, 14th - 31st May 2011 North Plain Lonning lined with flowering Cow Parsley 14th May Male Woodpecker heard hammering on nest box hole. A Tree Sparrow, currently occupying this box, was hovering round in the vicinity. Shelduck feeding on the tideline in the evening...

Photo diary - 21st (Spring Equinox) to 31st March 2011 Daffodils in hedge bottom along Lonning Willow coming into bloom 21st March High Spring tides were flooding the Inner Solway Estuary marshes causing the Barnacle Geese who frequent them, to flight west to the Outer estuary pastures...

A photo diary - early March 2011 A calm early March day on the estuary 1st March An influx of finches to the area was noted today Female Brambling Lesser Redpoll and Siskin (both males) feeding on nearby garden niger seed 2nd March Goldfinch in splendid Spring plumage...

4th August Common Blue Damselfly on track Heron had been hunting for frogs in the dyke Heron taking off near first Pool Small Copper on trackside vegetation Numerous small Tortoiseshell butterflies were flying today 7th August Red Admiral on Willow-herb 8th August...

…sort of a day. It was warm, when the sun came out it was really hot – but across the estuary big black clouds were looming. No wind. So we set out for the Reserve, ready for anything! The Common Hawker was our first encounter as we walked down the track passed the farm. We were buzzed...

In the last week, even with somewhat changeable weather, there has been plenty of activity on the bird front. Waders seem to be assembling on the estuary now, day on day: Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Golden Plover and Oystercatchers in ever increasing numbers. Black-tailed Godwits on estuary...

Flaming June – WE 19th June This has been a week notable for it’s fine, hot and sunny weather. New families of House Sparrows and Blue Tits were showing. A pair of Siskins briefly put in an appearance too. Siskin vying with Goldfinch for niger seed - 14th June 2010 Link to video...