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Snow on the Scottish Hills viewed from Campfield Marsh - 22 1 13 The depth of winter this year at Campfield has been decidedly undramatic, whilst the rest of the country, if TV is to be believed, has suffered under continents of snow and ice, blocked roads, closed schools and more sledging than you...

Whoopers on Meadow Pools at dawn - 12th January 2013 The gentle pulsing of the alarm broke into my slumbers, although I have to say, we seldom use an alarm these days – but today would be special! We had pre-planned a very early morning foray onto the Reserve here at North Plain, as we knew...

For the past week or so we have been able to hear the wonderful sound of Whoopers , back over on the reserve wetlands, from the hamlet here at West Common. Although the weather has been very inclement recently and yesterday was no exception, we decided to take a walk down North Plain Lonning in hopeful...

Campfield Workparty Christmas Barbecue 13 12 12 Judith and I both set out for the annual workparty Christmas barbecue at North Plain. The weather was dry and a thin southerly wind was blowing but with an arctic bite to it. Criffell and the distant Lakeland fells were a pastel blue grey; their bases...

Main business of the day was going to be a trip to the surgery for jabs and Judith to do a little shopping – after that the world was our oyster! So Judith said, “ let's take the motorhome, we'll have a picnic lunch and take the cameras and scopes and go on a 'wild goose chase'...

PHOTOGRAPHIC REVIEW OF EARLY NOVEMBER 1st November 2012 Massed flock of Whooper Swans at Seaville. Close-up of Whoopers at Seaville with Crifell in the background. Whoopers bathing and preening. Looking very relaxed. Further groups were coming in all the time. Fieldfares...

Winter has already come to the Solway. The nights have now drawn in; the weather has a distinct chill feel to it; we have had a few arctic gusts already. There have been several night frosts - so the tree colours have been very good this year. The Scandanavian winter Thrushes have arrived in force...

Today was a little unusual for the Campfield Marsh Reserve: we had a substantial visitation on the estuary sands and saltmarsh, from a flock (in excess of 120) of Barnacles . In past years they have appeared beyond the Saltmarsh Pool and beyond the boundary fence, in quite good numbers but here on...

Saltmarsh and pool. We had been down onto the North Plain wetlands and the hide and had just returned to the lonning entrance - I was casually scanning with the bins towards the scrape and the boundary fence, when we beheld a great sight: a goodly flock of Barnacles were scattered over the marsh....

They seemed also to be enjoying the warmth of the sun on the metal roof of the old grain silo.

Adult Grey Heron quietly hunting.

Quite a busy day on the Reserve birdwise. This flock flew straight above us across the Lonning, as we were walking down to the hide to view the Great White Egret.

9 12 11. Grey Heron are frequent visitors to the Reserve wetlands. This one had been in the pool next to the hide.

One of a pair of Woodpeckers who have frequented the area of North Plain Farm throughout the winter.

This group of geese had gradually moved nearer to the hide as they grazed the wetland meadows.

Four leucistic Barnacles, locally thought to be a family group, grazing together with other Barnacles and Pinkfeet, on wetland pastures of North Plain Farm.

One of four Leucistic Barnacles amongst a mixed flock of about 2,500 Pinks and Barnacles grazing floodland pastures on North Plain Farm, as viewed from the Hide.

After spending some time grazing, preening and swimming around the meadows and pools in front of the hide on North Plain Farm, this group of swans took to the air.