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There was an air of hush in the front lounge. Judith was at the window table, as that week she had taken delivery of two new sets of glasses, thus new horizons for her had been opened up! She can now read the small print in her Canon camera manual and was factoring some new tricks into her camera –...

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...

Great! It was a fine morning: sunshine and plenty of wind blowing - all commodities that have been in short supply round here in recent months. My delicate hearing picked up the sound of at least three separate tractors working at the ‘back’ - as we call it! The heavy thud of low gear work...

Female Marsh Harrier hunting over hide wetland. The high tide series were starting to fall back - but with the gale, today‘s high tide had a really good push on it: white horses - the lot! We decided to tackle the wetlands first. Battling down the Lonning, the willow trees and ashes were...

"Summer Solway Estuary and Gulls flying" - a pastel sketch from my studio window. Campfield Marsh Reserve, here on the Solway, is a really nice place to visit at the end of Summer, especially its estuary element. As you may know, inland reserves can be a little quiet at this time of the...

We knew that there had been regular Marsh Harrier sightings over the wetlands in front of the hide, during the past week or so - so we thought we would like some! It’s a sport that can involve many hours of patient and fruitless watching but that can sometimes present the persistent birder with...

We had been to town in the morning - not my idea of a fun day out! But during the drive back along the Solway marshes towards Campfield, our spirits started to lift. The weather was wonderful: sun beating down from a Summer Constable sky - you know the one with the little fluffy clouds; the marshes looked...

For some time now we had been able to detect a slight air of despondency, amongst the Staff on the Reserve, mixed with hope and anticipation - brought about by this monsoon-like summer that I’m sure most of us in the British Isles will have experienced. Our situation here on the Reserve is...

Raised Moss and Boardwalk, Bowness Common - looking towards Criffel. Strange thing to have to say … there was definitely a feeling of Spring in the air in spite of the fact we were well into the middle of June. Some of the Ash trees in the area hadn’t even attained their leaves! But there...

Across first Meadow Pool. The Lonning towards the hide. Second Meadow Pool. Nosy guest cattle. Pied Wagtail with Cranefly. Reed Bunting on Lonning hedgerow. Sandhills towards the Solway. Sedge Warbler - Black and White sketch. Sedge Warbler in colour. ...

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...

. Not much fear of that. We’re back into winter gear: Wellington boots; padded jackets … the whole kahuna! A fine warm March: temperatures up in the 20’s; water levels falling by the minute; talk of hosepipe bans and compulsory metering! I remember a severe drought a few years...

Not in excess thereof, but merely a sufficiency thereunto! Therefore, let us all join together in gratitude for the celebrities we have received of late: Great White Egret; Little Egret; three Glossy Ibis and ultimately, a wonderful Spoonbill! But as with all celebrity comes the uncertain fickle element...

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...

Wetted meadows - North Plain Farm … is the best way to describe what’s going on here on the farm at North Plain. Several large meadows, all in line along the Lonning, traditionally had been used for cattle grazing and hay meadows - common to all the farms on the Cardurnock Peninsula surrounding...

Out along the boardwalk onto the Moss We had been vaguely aware for the previous week or so that there was serious digger activity out on the Moss and Dave had given us some basic information regarding this work. So, having picked our day: no wind, sunshine and some free time (you get the drift!)...

Having had a few dull and damp days recently, today dawned bright and sunny. However the incoming tide before lunch brought with it its usual shower. Not deterred, we set off down the Lonning and were gratified to see the sun struggling through. We had a quick look through the screen overlooking the...

… the words of Tom Jones’ song come to mind. The family were up for Christmas from the arid east Midlands. They couldn’t remember the last time it rained down there and were just amazed at the amount of rain and water we had here at Campfield - and were fascinated by the grey...

Sat here in the lounge groaning after Christmas lunch, the opening of presents and the drinking of ‘Festive Spirit’ … you get the drift. There is a high tide series here on the Solway: big tide coming in at midday, coupled with a fair gale driving the waves high upon the salt...

Two Woodcock - part of a large number visiting Campfield during the cold spell at the beginning of the year. The gregarious and colourful Wigeon that make the winter reserve so pleasurable. Whoopers, our glorious winter visitors. One of the Lonning’s Sedge Warblers declares his...

There had been great excitement in the local birding community here on the Solway, in recent days: a flock of 76 Bean Geese had presented itself on the flooded stubble fields round the lovely town of Silloth and a stimulating informative controversy was surging to and fro amongst the cognoscente, regarding...

An early November Photo Diary Area round Saltmarsh Pool where the Great White Egret has installed itself 1st November A beautiful sunny windless day with first record of Great White Egret seen on the Reserve at Saltmarsh Pool. 2nd November Cool and breezy. 10.45 - 12.00 am, Great White...

Criffel and the Solway after the Storm, 17th October. 15th October A very warm misty morning with a rosy dawn. Small parties Barnacles could be seen and heard flying west most of the morning. Lots of Gulls out on the channel with a single Whooper on the tideline. Small party of Barnacles...

Barnacles are a speciality of the Solway. This group were on the Cardurnock pastures. Oystercatchers battling with the tail-end of Hurricane Katia. A typical Solway farm here on Campfield Marsh Summer Solway and Criffel from Campfield Marsh. Barnacles on the saltings of the R...