Your local Patch/Reserve. (1 Viewer)

JimMorris said:

someone in their wisdom decided to take down the hide by the pond so the chances of seeing the Kingfisher and a lot of other birds has diminished greatly. I don't know if it was a RSPB decision or the head guy at Coombes.
Jim.

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Pam_m said:

I thought I would ressurect this thread and see if anyone who posted and of course those who haven't would like to give an update of there Patch/Area/Reserve that they visit! Of course new 'Patches etc' would be most welcome.

I visited RSPB Coombes Valley in Staffordshire on Sunday, a reserve I had read about many times and was on my 'to visit' list! I was not to be disappointed. The reserve is splendid. There is a short walk or a longer walk for the more energetic! The longer walk was chosen! It was a pleasant day weatherwise with sunny intervals and warm. I am pleased they were just sunny intervals as the walk seemed to go on forever! There are many pathways that meander through the reserve bringing a fresh view on reaching a bend in the pathway or once the hilly paths had been climbed a panoramic view of the countryside unfolded! Not many birds to be seen in truth but the ones seen were a delight! Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail. Jay and a Kestrel were perhaps the highlights. Butterflies were thin on the ground, Meadow Brown being the main one to be seen and ID'd! Plenty of flies etc in the fields were the cattle grazed...a quick walk through these fields was in order..no bites for me thanks!
All in all a very pleasing reserve that is excellently managed to provide a range of habitat for all wildlife. A reserve I would definately visit again. Well done the RSPB!:t:

A short drive from Coombes Valley is the Caldon Canal. A pleasant walk along the canal produced a lifer for me! A Spotted Flycatcher! Great views were had as it flew from the trees on the opposite side of the canal to a scaffolded building alongside the canal path, and there it perched for a good couple of minutes each time. The lighting was very dim as the trees shaded this part of the canal, so a good photo from me was not to be. I can thoroughly recommend a walk along this canal, plenty of Flora if not many birds. Just the odd Spotted flycatcher. I can also recommend a visit to the local hostelry situated by the canal bridge...they do a mean Rib eye steak!o

A few photo's of the S.Flycatcher and my thanks to my daughter Emma who took the 2 good pics and kindly donated them to this post, :t:my photo is the silhouette!

A link to Coombes Valley.http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/c/coombeschurnet/index.asp

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Pam_m said:

I spent this afternoon with a visiting family friend seeking out a new wood that is only just under 10 minutes from my home. It is called Uffmoor Wood. Not many birds to be seen or heard but the butterflies put on a fine display on the perimeter of the woods.
A sunny and warm afternoon spent in a delightful wood that will in the Autumn/Winter and Spring I am sure produce some fine birding.

http://www.wt-woods.org.uk/uffmoorwood/description.asp

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pie said:

Lovely Woodland pics Pam, the Butterflies have finally put in appearance after such a wet windy summer, it's been great seeing them in the garden and dancing along the hedgerows.
Hope you get lots of nice things in your new found woodland Pam!

Bat Walk at Bute Park Cardiff
This evening I joined an organised walk at Bute Park. The meeting place is commonly known as Blackwier. The Taff Trail Ive talked about in my reports, runs alongside the park.
The group set off at 9pm armed with Bat detectors & torches provided by the warden, with still plenty of evening light, we got excellent views of Common pipistrelle, darting around our heads and taking advantage of the flying insects. We were told the C'pip can eat over 3,000 insects in one night.
The echolocation was clearly heard on the detectors.
The clouds were high due to the night humidity, which meant the Swallows & Martins were still feeding on insects at a higher level.

As we headed toward the River, the darkness suddenly descended and we continued by torchlight.
The detectors continued to pick up Pips and was soon joined by the sound of Noctule Bats. The Noctule is twice the size of the pipistrelle, & the wardens powerful torch gave us excellent views before focusing his torch on the river where we got to see Daubenton's Bats, known to skim river beds for insects.

By the time we headed back, the group felt confident enough to id the different species by their sound.

I really enjoyed the evening, and I'm tempted to but a Bat detector & look for other species like the Lesser horseshoe known at another site not so far away. Problem is, I would like a Moth trap too!!!

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Peewit said:

Hi Pam

Yes, I will do as many reports as I can with my trusty camera in hand Pam

Looking forward to doing that now as photos make a makes a report what it really is, and adds that extra interest to the written word.

Kathy
x

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pie said:

Re; Moth trap.
I'm interested to know more about your plan to make a trap Pam, are you going to buy a light bulb? The equipment looks expensive, but I'd love to look into it.
Keep us posted Pam.

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Pam_m said:

I can't inspire you, my Moth trap didn't work, Pie!:-C Good luck with yours.....sounds as though you had a good deal with your equipment! I shall persevere and report back when I have something to report!:-O Let us know how you get on please, Pie!

A report on Upton Warren sometime tomorrow!

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Ruth Daniel said:

Oh that's a shame Pam......back to the drawing board eh?:king:
good luck with your effort Pie......do let us know won't you?

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Pam_m said:

Looking forward to a few reports from you, kathy!:t:

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Pam_m said:

I visited the WWT National Wetland Centre, Llanelli, Wales, last Saturday and had a most enjoyable day. It was a Centre I had wanted to visit for a while but I had really chosen a quiet time of year to visit for birds. They were few and far between, though a Little Egret, 60 Black-Tailed Godwits,10 Redshank, Common Snipe and Cormorant were a delight to see. In truth apart from the Mallards and the odd Coot there wasn't an awful lot on or around the scrapes. Plenty of juvenile Moorhens along the pathways almost begging for seed handouts, I had forgotten to buy a bag and felt a bit guilty! The Flora around the centre was abundant and looked very picturesque in the sunshine, it would still have cheered the day had it been raining, which fortunately it did not do today. The Islands on the pools and scrapes looking particularly pretty with a mass of Flora. The feeding station next to the visitor Centre cafe was a delight to watch, a Jay and Great spotted Woodpecker being the highlight. Plenty of Finches vied for a perch on the feeders and I was especially pleased to see the House Sparrows, a rarity in my neck of the woods (well my garden). A few dragon/damselflies and the odd Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown braved the sunny but still cool day. I would visit the centre again but in the late Autumn or Spring. All in all a day well spent at the Wetland Centre. 3 Red kites were seen on the journey through Wales on Friday and the same amount on the way home on Sunday!
Magnificient birds!:t:

http://www.wwt.org.uk/centre/120/national_wetland_centre_wales.html

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Pam_m said:

I can't inspire you, my Moth trap didn't work, Pie!:-C Good luck with yours.....sounds as though you had a good deal with your equipment! I shall persevere and report back when I have something to report!:-O Let us know how you get on please, Pie!

A report on Upton Warren sometime tomorrow!

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