Going walkabout

The sun came out today and we did appreciate it. Well it has been a little shy the last few weeks. So cameras and bins at the ready and off we venture to our favourite birding area with our great guides David and Linda Ball.  So here we all are waiting to start off the venture, with anticipation enthusiasm and much invigoration for the walk ahead. What will we see? what will we hear? what will we learn?

The group with David and Linda.

Well, for me it was meeting the local regular, Busby. It was a surprise to turn around and see a 38 year old Macaw, rescued from a pet shop and much loved by his owner.  You will often see them taking the air and seeing the locals. Busby is a real character, just ask his owner, who can also tell you some interesting stories.

Busby

Busby

The first area we take a look at will be the Heronry which is opposite the reeds. Here you will often see Herons fly past back to their nests. If you are lucky you may see Reed Buntings hovering around, and over by the feeders you should see Blue Tits, Greenfinches, and Great Tits, along with Goldfinches. They will normally feed off the feeders. But do take a look on the ground you may see a Dunnock. They only like to feed on the ground.

 

Heron surveying the area

Walking along the pathway at this time of the year, we get to see so many beautiful wild flowers, much needed to attract various insects, which we need to help support our wildlife because they do form part of the food chain.

Here are a selection of flowers just to give you some idea of the type of wild flowers you can see at this time of year.

                                                    

Hyacinthoides non-scripta - Bluebell

Rannunculaceae Buttercup

 Stitchwort

Umbelliferae Cow Parsley

You can smell Wild Garlic as you walk down the pathway and head towards the main reserve and what an amazing herb it is. Its botanical name is Allium ursinum – is a wild relative of chives which are native to Europe and Asia.  Do note that the leaves of wild garlic look like Lily of the Valley, and these must not be consumed, since they are very toxic. To tell the difference, if you rub the leaves between your fingers it will give off a pungent garlic aroma. If it does not, then its not wild garlic, so avoid at all cost.

Garlic is also known as Russian penicillin and was used to help individuals with respiratory tract infections. During World War I it was often used to help treat infections since it has antibiotic properties.

Allium ursinum –Wild Garlic

Moving past the garlic do look out for an entrance on your left, it will lead you to this lovely stream and I have been told sometimes you will see a Kingfisher, but you do have to be very patient. It's one of my favourite areas, as it is so quiet and tranquil. Plus you will often here Chiffchaffs singing and the raucous noise of the crows.  Click here to hear a chiffchaff and here to listen to the sound of the  of the crows.

As I was walking, I stopped and looked back and was very lucky to see a Dunnock fly in and start eating insects from the ground. Unfortunately the quality of my photo of this lovely bird is not that brilliant, since it was so far away. At the time I  had no idea what it was. It was only later when checking with David that it was confirmed as a Dunnock.  I was pleased I was able to spot it.

I am afraid you really do have to be so patient to see some of the birds that you often hear people talk about. Birding is a wonderful thing, but you must have patience. As they say "Patience is a Virtue"

"The proverb has been traced back to 'Piers Plowman' (1377) by William Langland and is similar to the Latin, Maxima enim..patientia virtus (Patience is the greatest virtue) and the French, Patience est une grant vertu. (Patience is a great value.)"

          

 This is the sound of a Dunnock so one thing to do is to start to recognise the sound of birds. Click here

Prunella modularis Dunnock

Not only will you see birds, but different varieties of  insects such as bees, wasps and butterflies. Here we have a selection of some we saw.

As we made our way down to the main reserve.

Which way to go!

  We saw various Waterfowl birds, such as          the Shoveler, Male and Female Mallards, Canadian Geese and Mute Swans, just to name a few.

Safely landed - Mute Swans. They have  orange bills with black prominent base.

Mum and babies, but growing up fast.

Common Tern

Canada Geese

Get ready for landing

Bombs away

Not only did we see some wonderful waterfowl, but  the group was lucky to hear and see Reed Buntings, Whitethroat,  Cettis Warbler, Black Cap and the cheeky Robin. I was not so lucky to see all of these but here is my final display.  Although I am pleased to inform that I have finally seen the Whitethroat, and one day I will be even luckier to capture it by camera.

If you are very patient and bring some meal-worm with you, he will fly down and take the food out of your hand.

Female Reed Bunting

 To see  Reed Buntings it is best to be down by the reeds, but as already mentioned you will have to very patient. This is their call and so it is helpful to listen out for this.
 click here for the Reed Bunting song

Female Reed Bunting

Then wait and you should see them fly in and out of the reeds

Male Reed Bunting hiding

 The males will have a black heads and throats, whereas the female has a brown head.


Sometimes you may get the Male mixed up with a Black Cap. So if you see a bird with a black head and a black throat, it will be a Reed Bunting.

Male Reed Bunting

Male Reed Bunting

Finally and not last the lovely Longhorns. Unfortunately, they were hiding and I was only able to capture this one on camera.....resting and enjoying life.

 Quote

"Nature thrives on patience; man on impatience" 

                                                                                Paul Boese

References 

Alaskan Range (ND) Patience Is A Virtue. [accessed 20.05.13]http://www.openwriting.com/archives/2012/06/patience_is_a_v_2.php

Petrovska BB, Cekovska S (2010) Extracts from the history and medical properties of garlic.Pharmacogn Rev.  4(7): 106–110

 RSPB (ND) Dunnock. [accessed 20.05.13] www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/d/dunnock/index.aspx

RSPB (ND) Bird Guide.[accessed 20.05.13]  http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/muteswan/index.aspx

Sterry P (2008) Collins Complete Guide to British Wild Flowers: A Photographic Guide to Every Common Species. UK: Collins.