.
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 ago when the government created a Minister for Drought. This clearly angered the Gods as, from that day on, it never stopped raining for the whole summer. It looks as if the lesson has been learned here though, as they only declared a hosepipe ban this time … but the result was the same! The Gods sent us the deluge: reservoirs overflowed and flood release areas were filled to record levels.
We have all heard of the disaster on the Ouse Washes: with hundreds of nesting birds being flooded out. The old country saying, “a dry Spring and you will pay for it later” - certainly has resonance this year!
We, in our own small way here at Campfield, are experiencing the phenomena to some degree: quickly falling water levels when birds are nesting - and then just a few days ago, a solid 24 hours of rain … showing clear evidence of nests of various species of birds being flooded out. Moorhens and Black-headed Gulls were all clearly having to re-establish nesting sites - but doubtless smaller birds such as Skylarks may have suffered too! As to the state of Redshank, Snipe and Plover - this is as yet uncertain.
Nesting Black-headed Gulls, however, are a mixed blessing on a bird Reserve and fall generally under the category of ’bad neighbours’, as they will predate virtually anything, even each other - as far as I can see. Green Plover certainly have a hard time keeping the gulls at bay!
But as with all things in nature, there are ‘checks and balances.’ If you have a few Gulls nesting in an area, all the other predators: Buzzard, Harriers, Heron and not to mention foxes, dogs and cats - get a really hard time from them.
All this we poor conservationists view with some disquiet, unable to do anything about it - we are not gamekeepers! … and the word ’cull’ is something of an anathema to us really! So we must watch in helpless frustration as we see a fox gobble up the contents of a Skylark’s nest - or a Magpie or Carrion Crow take the contents of almost any species of birds’ nest. It is something that one never quite gets used to. The conservationists lot is not a happy one: drought; flood; storm; predation - you pays your money and takes your pick!
PHOTO RECORD OF RESERVE SIGHTINGS - MID MAY 2012
The Wetlands - in front of the hide
Black-headed Gulls nest building. 11 5 12
Gull attempting to rebuild flooded nest after 24hour of rain - 12 5 12
An aerial spat - 12 5 12
Moorhen nest building on clump of rushes, as water levels rise - 11 5 12
House Martins hawking over the wetlands - 11 5 12
Swallow hawking over flower meadow - 12 5 12
... and flying over the wetlands - 12 5 12
Skylark in song-flight over the grassland in front of the hide - 12 5 12
Lark descending amongst meadow flowers - 12 5 12
... then surveying its surroundings - 12 5 12
One of a number of Grey Heron who favour these rushy margins. - 12 5 12
Grey Heron numbers seem to be holding up still, after this last winter.
A pair of Mute Swan visitors to recent raised water levels here - 12 5 12
Cotton Grass in flower on the raised Bog. Splendid views are also to be had from the boardwalk - 12 5 12.
North Plain Farm Lonning.
Orange Tip butterflies seen flying here on sunny days - 6 5 12
Moorhen on raised nest, well out of the water. 11 5 12
Goldfinch are much in evidence, singing from perches along the lonning hedgeside - 11 5 12
Cheviot lambs, recently brought in with their mothers from Hawswater, for lowland pasture grazing - 12 5 12
The hamlet of West Common.
Male Lesser Redpoll - 7 5 12
Moorhen climbing up into damson tree - 7 5 12
It seemed very agile when climbing and explored some of the higher branches - 7 5 12
Campfield Saltmarsh
Male Linnet's song perch on marshside hawthorn - 7 5 12
Black-backed Gull grappling with its catch - it looks like an eel! - 14 5 12
Attempting to fly into the air with it ...
... and then drop it from a height. It repeated this a number of times until it was dead. Funnily enough after that it lost interest and left it for the Crows to finish off!
Two Roe Deer came running along the mudflats as if to leave the reserve and cross over into Scotland. However, that was not to be on this occasion, as there was still a fast tide running. They sensibly turned round and ran back inland - 14 5 12
Saltmarsh bathed in evening light - a fine hunting ground for the Barn Owl which can be seen now at dusk on most dry evenings - 11 5 12
Returning from a successful hunting trip - 11 5 12
Sunset over the Solway - 11 5 12
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: one minute we are bathed in their golden light and charisima, and the next, we are shuddering in the coldness of their departure - asking ourselves ”Is there life after Spoonbill?”…and searching, the answer comes mysteriously and reassuringly: “Dabchick” or as they are more fashionably called these days “Little Grebe” - here all the time - quietly gracing us with their diminutive presence.
Two parent birds have nested successfully early this year and have produced two chicks. The first one being observed on 24th April - a tiny object bobbing about like a dark animated cork on the 2nd Meadow Pool, and the second within a couple of days. In previous years they have had some degree of success but later on in the Summer after earlier failures. The success of this brood we might attribute to the warm days of March which we had this year.
Now, as we report some 12 days later, these chicks are about three times their original size already and are actively swimming, diving and feeding themselves to some degree, with both adults in close attendance … their solicitous whinnying calls evidence of their good parenting. These secretive little birds are, indeed, a pleasure to watch.
The scene at present being enhanced by a small brood of Moorhen and they all seem to get on quite amicably. So would it be too much to hope for a second brood of Grebe this year, to delight and sustain us as we while away the weary days of Summer, lulled by the song of the Willow, Sedge, Garden, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Grasshopper and Chiffchaff on the Reserve in daylight and in the evening, Barn Owl and Tawny hooting, with a chorus of Natterjacks; perhaps a late Curlew or Green Plover calling, momentarily disturbed by the presence of a Roe Deer or scuffling Badger - taking us through the dark hours.
There are hardly any hours of the 24 when one does not hear some call or other … and here in the North, when Summer reaches its height, it never really becomes totally dark!
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Little Grebe gathering weed for nest building and repairing - 4th April 2012
Little Grebe and first Chick, 24th May 2012
Video of Adult Little Grebe feeding two chicks, 6th May 2012
Moorhen with one of this year's brood - 6th May 2012.
Willow Warbler singing from Lonning hedge - 6th May 2012
Roe Deer crossing the Lonning - 6th May 2012
Barn Owl flying out along saltmarsh at dusk.
Returning after a successful trip.
'Supermoon' over the Reserve.
Impression of the Spoonbill with three of the Mute Swan familyYes, we have been doing rather well lately: a Great White and a Little Egret here for Easter. Birders came from far and wide to see them and get their ticks - and some simply came to see them!. These, of course, were specials, over and above the usual suspects: geese, ducks and waders. Sadly coming up to the Bank Holiday, both have now deserted us and we are beginning to wonder how we were to entertain people over the Bank Holiday.
We thought our problems were over when ‘heaven help us’, three Glossy Ibis blew in. These stunners were witnessed firstly by Norman Holton (Cumbria Coastal Reserves Manager) and two visitors. Norman promptly contacted us and several other local birders, by his mobile, to savour this exquisite moment. We were halfway through our evening meal at the time. The sweet course had been duly brought to table: a delicious blueberry cheesecake - I had even consumed my first mouthful when we received the call. I can stand before you with my hand on my heart and tell you - we rose from the table leaving this delicious confection; grabbing scope, camera and bins and set off, at what I would have liked to describe as a run - but was more like a shambling stagger - towards the hide, some ¾ mile distant … to be told by Norman, the dreaded news that these exotic visitors had departed, we knew not where! By now further enthusiastic birders were entering the hide - their little faces alight with anticipation. I have to admit to a slight feeling of schadenfreude, when their features crumpled in disappointment - as had my own - having received the dreadful news. Every twitchers nightmare! I think I have painted a sufficient picture of our desolation at the approach of the coming Bank Holiday weekend.
But St. Francis must have been watching over us as the morning of the 3rd May arrived, and again, halfway through lunch this time, the jungle drums started to beat in the form of Joe, our immediate neighbour and RSPB member - who had heard, secondhand, of the presence of a superb Spoonbill at the Saltmarsh Pool. Having thanked Joe profusely, we did our now well practised scramble procedure. This time about a 1/3 mile road run to the Saltmarsh Pool - meeting, coming the other way- a jubilant Norman and Dave( Campfield Reserve Manager) in the company ‘truck’, which screeched to a halt. Norman seemed quite surprised at out rapid response and wondered if we had seen his email? To which we replied in the negative, informing him that the bush telegraph is much quicker!
We then completed the rest of the ‘run’ where, this time, we beheld this wondrous visitor: a splendid bird in full breeding plumage - happily running to and fro with a scything action typical of Spoonbills, partaking of the various delicacies on offer in the Pool … Yes, Folks, we have our celebrity visitor for the Bank holiday weekend! … and with hands trembling with excitement we set up our tripods and cameras to record the same and get it out for all to view on the internet.
Hopefully, the bird will appreciate the delights of Campfield enough to stay with us at least for the Bank Holiday weekend!
As a Post Script. This afternoon, a wonderful family of 5 Mute Swans flew in to join it - making an impressive study in white. We can report that they are all getting on amicably together.
Great White Egret on Saltmarsh Pool at Easter.
Spoonbill mobbed by Black-headed Gulls on hide wetlands.
Spoonbill having a successful time feeding on Saltmarsh Pool. 3 5 12
Saltmarsh Pool. 3 5 12
Spoonbill and Mute Swan family getting on amicably. 4 5 12
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 sun blazed down from a blue sky … you could see the steam rising from the flooded wetlands.
Yes folks, we do have plenty of water here - and we are the sort of people who are very much in favour of sharing this valuable resource with others less fortunate than ourselves. All this talk of selling water to each other is outrageous! Water comes from the heavens - it isn’t manufactured - nobody owns it. We are one nation and as such we should share and share alike!
All these positive thoughts were passing through our minds as we sat contentedly resting in the willow bower, which had been lovingly and with great skill, constructed for us all by the dedicated Staff here at Campfield. It’s a wonderful structure comprising a single but strong seat and a shelter constructed of planted woven willow fronds - in the far corner of the flooded wetland. It provides shelter from both sun, rain and wind - on a slightly raised area, giving an ideal view over the whole of the flood, reed beds and pools; right next to an ancient cattle pond. What could be better on a hot day than to set up the scope, open the sandwich box and thermos flask - notebooks and Collins at the ready … and it can be easily reached by one and all, through the wicket gate next to the hide, at the end of the Lonning.
To sit there on a Summer’s evening and watch the shadows lengthen, with the quiet contented calls of the various residents settling down for the night, “is very heaven” . Evening here is an especially good time for nature watching - one sees and hears owls and also mammals, such as roe deer and foxes. If one is very fortunate, badgers too - a creature which we hold a special affection for - though seldom seen, signs of their digging and routing about on the Lonning area are quite obvious. I confess to mixed feelings though, when they come into my garden and orchard and rotovate my lawns for me - but ‘tis a small price to pay for such a beautiful animal! The same can be said for rabbits really - as we get many a good laugh at their antics. Even hares come through on their way from the farm down to the marsh - though we did have to take defensive measures in the form of a net, to stop the roe deer leaping the wire fence and landing right in the middle of our marrow patch, which we had thoughtlessly planted right in their path through to the marsh.
Incidentally folks, I can confirm that foxes are very partial to fallen ripe damsons. They consume them with great gusto at that time of the year, and even tolerate being watched from relatively close quarters whilst doing so. We see them quite regularly on the farm and marsh nowadays, scratching around for what tasty morsels the estuary might bring - unharassed by baying hounds. We know they take their toll of ground-nesters but so do stoats, weasels and hedgehogs! But, as we mentioned earlier, we are all members of one nation - so live and let live!
Male Linnet on marshside hawthorn whilst female was picking about below. 21 4 12
Dunnock displaying on gorse - Campfield Marsh. 21 4 12
A Spring day down North Plain Lonning. The air was full of birdsong. 22 4 12
Willow Warbler singing from willow branches along the Lonning. 22 4 12
Female Large Red Damselfly on Lonning track - 22 4 12
Small skein of Barnacles - spotted half a mile away due to Norman's sharp hearing.
Little Grebe carrying weed back to rushes - 22 4 12
Tufted Duck and Oystercatchers on Meadow Pool - 22 4 12
Willow Bower - the perfect place to do a spot of scoping.
View from bower towards Skiddaw and grazing Roe Deer - 15 4 12 (evening)
Track to the wood and the boardwalk across the moss. - view from the Bower.
Mallard, Teal and Garganey (male) near bower - 15 4 12 (evening)
Teal taking off from wetland near bower - 15 4 12 (evening)
Curlew overhead - 15 4 12 (evening)
Redshank and Meadow Pippits on drying out flooded meadow - 15 4 12 (evening)
Pied Wagtails and Reed Bunting on drying out flooded Meadow - 15 4 12 (evening)
Badger rotovations in our orchard - 14 4 12
Fox with a mouthful of juicy damsons - Autumn 2011
Hare eating dry sycamore leaves last Autumn in the garden.
Marrow patch with netting to protect it from the roe deer.
End of the day over the Reserve.
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 get the drift!
Yesterday (11th April) was just such a typical day: massive skies, hail showers passing down the estuary; rainbows; next minute, brilliant sunshine reflecting in the newly formed puddles; snow still showing on the hills.
So, taking our chance, we skipped out onto the marsh road. The gorse was resplendent: cadmium yellow. It had never looked so good - strange plant, gorse! We heard two Chiffchaffs singing from the marsh side trees. Judith managed two good shots of both of them. Often difficult to photograph as they tend to sing from cover. Hedges have not yet acquired their full Spring plumage, by any means - and the damson blossom too, is coming out very slowly. Good plan this, as hail, snow and driving winds can arrive very suddenly, hereabouts - totally destroying the blossom.
But onwards, onto the farm and down the lonning …Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Magpie - all of them going about their daily business: pairing, singing and nesting. Plenty of Wrens about - it’s been a relatively mild winter!
Meadow Pools are still holding a few Wigeon; plenty of Teal; a pair of Tufties have just arrived; a couple of Little Grebe about and Moorhens in plenty. On the flooded meadows, now drying back a little, Green Plover, Pied Wagtails, and Pipits - the Black-tailed Godwits seem to have passed through by now. But Redhank and Curlew seem to be staying with us - good sign this, as a lot of work had been carried out on these meadows, this last winter ( and I mean a lot!) to create good wader breeding habitat.
As the sun was coming out on the Lonning, the buzz of insects: hoverflies and bumble bees, was much in evidence. On down to the the hide at the end, overlooking the wetland - plenty of water still here. Oh boy! There was the Great White Egret in close company with four Grey Herons, fishing the lagoons and reed beds - though, after a while, the Egret took itself off to sit on its favourite place on a stump on the edge of the flooded birch woodland, where it can overlook in peace, what has now become its domain! Here it can get away from the bothersome Herons and Black-headed Gulls and sit in the sun digesting its food and having a preen.
There are still plenty of duck: Shoveler, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal - disporting themselves and generally sorting out their differences - as duck do! Then to cap all this, in the new pool slap in front of the hide, a female Mallard appeared with her tribe of very small ducklings. She was avidly feeding in the rushy weedy margins - stirring up the food and making this immediately available to the ducklings. But a note of caution here! She will have to be very careful of ever present dangers: Buzzards, Harriers, Herons, Egrets and Carrion Crows … ducklings would make a very tasty snack! But Mallards are good mothers - they need to be! Even male Mallard attack ducklings in certain circumstances.
In contemplating all this, a large bird of prey swooped low over the wetland near the wood. My tired old eyes could not distinguish which raptor it was and the camera was busy elsewhere. But I’ll opt for a Peregrine, as it set everything up flying around. Even the Egret did a bit of a circuit too! But whatever it was, it can’t have been too hungry. These birds of prey do this just for fun … and practice, of course. On a nice fine day like this who wants to be bothered to kill something, pluck it, prepare it, fend off all the other parasitic scavengers and then have to eat it - when you can save yourself the energy and sit on a nice warm stump somewhere, have a preen and a sleep!. There’ll be time enough for killing when it’s got 3 or 4 ravenous young of its own to feed over the next few months!
Speaking of ‘ravenous’ - I feel an afternoon tea coming on. “Shall we go, dear?” I said to Judith, who was merrily clicking away with the camera still.
Hail showers passing along the estuary.
Hundreds of Oystercatchers sitting out the high tide.
Several thousand Barnacles flew west in small skeins, as the high tide flooded their inner estuary roosts.
A secretive Chiffchaff - singing from cover amongst the gorse at the entrance to North Plain Lonning.
Chiffchaff on marshside sycamore.
Black-headed Gulls mobbing a Grey Heron on wetland in front of hide.
Gulls chased these two heron over to the right-hand corner of the wetland.
Obviously this was a good congregating spot for the Egret and Herons.
The Egret soon returned to its favourite stump.
After some contemplation, a return to a more peaceful feeding mode.
Female Mallard guiding ducklings into the pool margins,
Female Mallard with her clutch of ducklings at the head of the channel in front of the hide.
Mallard ducklings seem keen to explore the channel.
Spotlight on the viaduct across the marsh - at the end of the day
Who says there isn't a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? ... we certainly have one!