1200-1430 on site yesterday following my initial ‘Grandad’ visit to Stoke Heath.
The first thing that struck me from the Moors car park was the deafening.....silence! Nary a sound was heard which was ominous to say the least. Walking the causeway i passed 2 separate individuals sporting only cameras plus another upon the return with bins - i thought here we go, quite what they found to photograph will require a hefty dollop of optimism with added Photoshop methinks.....
From the hide there appeared to be the makings of a fine hay crop as all the islands were vegetated almost edge to edge with 3-5’ of wild flowers of which i am a fan as botany was my first love but the ‘Upton Assemblage’ did look out of place. I don’t know the general management for the islands prior to birds returning to breed but presumably there is some pre-nuptial strimming (ooh Matron)? Understandably the Trust’s Draconian Covid compliance has meant minimum presence and management.
I remember overhearing a ‘birder’ in the same hide a coupla years ago complaining about the noise from the Gullery and ‘can’t the Trust do something about it’ - on a bird reserve? Nice try mate
Well they have but be careful what you wish for. I used to visit the huge colony at Worfield Bog, Bridgnorth.....just to hear that noise, a fabulous bustling den of iniquity - all sorts of dubious activity to keep you interested. A bit like Kidderminster on a sunny Saturday - Worfield went the way of the Dodo because influential residents with a bit of money ‘didn’t like the noise’ and corrupt councillors did their bidding and now there is nothing.
I digress. We didn’t think the walk opposite worth the effort - no point in viewing the same thing from the opposite angle so we decanted to the Flashes. An adult Common Tern clocked on the Sailing Pool was doing its best to find a spot to plunge-dive for fish. That area imho is an absolute mess and an eyesore to boot but leave them to it i say.
Onward to Wader Central. The Hen Brook Hide was ‘closed for repairs’ - it looked like nature had finally claimed it as one of its own - i half expected to bump into Livingstone asking me if i had seen anything of Stanley. The new hide is a beast and smells, well, new c/w a microclimate inside that befits its Nordic interior looks. All windows now open we scanned and scanned. A 2nd Little Egret and a coupla flighty Green Sands plus a scruffy little thing lurking around the boat. I now realise that it was a juvenile Cetti’s as per the above post - must try harder. The main hide contained one birder c/w bins and scope - finally we had hit paydirt in the form of somebody else actually there to bird. The 3 of us bantered about Covid, the Trust and possible inheritance from a recently deceased Uncle which might (or might not) benefit myself or my adjacent brother - quite what the original occupant thought of this is unknown but that is our MO. 7 spp of wader were noted including 2 Blackwits, 3 Curlew and double figures Green Sands. Stock Doves were here and there and another, or the same, Common Tern was calling from a sitting position on one of the smaller islands which were relatively ‘clean’ compared to the triple-canopy habitat at the other end of the reserve.
On the one hand i was surprised to see people in single figures but not ppl without bins but each to their own. I have heard of a groundswell of disgruntled now former members which comes as no surprise but hopefully will still visit under the reciprocal arrangement.....until that too breaks down following the Norfolk model.
Good birding -
Laurie