The response to our coach trips has been mixed this year with one having sufficient bookings, one slightly under-subscribed and the final trip had very few bookings so that we had to change it to a shared car trip. Although we do not run these trips as a money-making venture we cannot afford to run them at a loss and the cost of the coaches increases every year.
Our October trip was to the RSPB reserve at Dungeness. It
seems a long time since we visited this reserve but it was lucky we were going
to a non-muddy reserve as overnight we had had thunderstorms and torrential
rain.
Things looked promising as we came down the driveway and
saw flocks of Goldfinches but this was topped when we arrived at the visitor
centre because sitting on the roof was a Black Redstart. Not a bad start to the
day.
The visitor centre overlooks a lagoon where we could see
various groups of birds including two Sparrowhawks which were unnerving the
other birds. We also saw Little Egrets which seem to be spreading everywhere
now.
As you go around the reserve there are large areas of
bushes with elusive birds ducking and diving in them but we did manage to see Goldcrest
and Reed Warbler. We also saw Wheatear and Stonechat although they were some
distance away.
Plenty to see over the reserve but it is certainly a case
of gravel, gravel and more gravel – with some water of course.
We could not spend the day at Dungeness and not go to the
‘Patch’ so after lunch we travelled down to the nuclear power station. The
Patch is actually the outfall from the power station and as the water is warm
the fish tend to congregate in this area and in turn the birds congregate around
the fish.
So a great place for birds but what they don’t tell you
about is the terrific noise of steam escaping periodically from the power
station.. Conversation is impossible and next time I think earplugs would be
advisable.
It began to rain but that was forgotten when almost the
first bird we identified was a Pomarine Skua. This is quite rare for this area
so we were very pleased to have spotted it. The skua was around for some time
harrassing the terns and gulls trying to get food.
So a great day out with good birds.
In January we went down to West Sussex to visit two
locations. Our first stop was at Climping Gap near Littlehampton.
We have been to this spot before but we were still doubtful
of the correct route so it was a relief when we came to the car park which leads
to the beach and dunes.
There are lots of bushes along the beach which looked very
promising but only produced a woodpigeon. Sea watching was more successful with
Redbreasted Merganser, Red-Throated Diver and possibly an Eider Duck.
So far the weather had been good but then the skies
darkened. It thundered, hail; pelted down on us and then we had torrential rain.
Surprisingly a lot of people came back to the coach early. As we drove away from
the coast it stopped raining and the sun came out!
We travelled back inland to the RSPB Pulborough Brooks
reserve. The visitor centre here is quite new and I am told that people come to
the reserve just to visit the restaurant.
They have put up a wide variety of feeders near the
entrance to the visitor centre and these were attracting a large number of tits,
chaffinches etc.
There are four hides on a circular route with a number of
lagoons and the reserve overlooks the floodplain of the River Arun.
It had been dry for about two hours but then we had another
downpour and it was a good time to be in one of the hides. Not everybody was!
Luckily the weather was good for the rest of the day.
The reserve attracts large numbers of Wigeon and it was nice to see so many Lapwings. We also saw White-Fronted Geese, a solitary Snow Goose, Water Rail, Green Woodpecker, Brambling and a Little Owl. We even saw Roe Deer.
A great variety of things to see and as we prepared to leave the reserve the sunset was gorgeous making it very difficult to drag ourselves away.
Our programme this year includes two coach trips – to
Titchwell and Slimbridge and two shared-car trips- to the Wildfowl and Wetland
Centre at Barnes and to Little Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire.
Titchwell in Norfolk is one of our favourite reserves and I
can honestly say that I have never had a bad day there. There is always
something to see and plenty of different habitats.
Slimbridge has been chosen as our winter destination as we
can be sure of some interesting birds and plenty of hides to retreat into if the
weather is cold. They have built a new centre, with much-improved facilities,
since we last visited and I am sure this site will give us an interesting
birdwatching experience.
The Wildfowl and Wetland Centre at Barnes has been a great success with the birds from the very start and it will be interesting to see what can be found so close to the centre of London.
One of the wardens from Little Paxton Pits will be coming to give us a talk about the reserve in February so I am sure that this will inspire many to join us on the trip up the A1. The committee visited the reserve in May and we had a fantastic evening with over 20 nightingales singing around us. Not to be missed!
I hope that more people will join us on the trips. They are good fun for everyone, whatever the weather. You can spend time walking around on your own, with your own group of friends or you can join the more experienced members of the committee who would be delighted to have your company. You are assured of a good day birdwatching.
Mary Attwood