A place to learn, share and inspire others to create a haven for you and for wildlife.
Sign In or Register to join the conversation
Just been out walking today, and spotted these in an hedgerow. I live in Lancashire, North-West England, and this seems early for daffodils to be in flower. Has anybody seen Dafs in flower earlier than this ?
There are 9000 species of bird on earth. Let's keep it that way.
Thank you Budgie
Bedford is an ideal place to live as it is smack bang in the middle of the UK, and it is makes all places accessible without having to move there.
It is a great place to live for access for all Reserves in all areas of the country - too many to post here.
We are looking forward to going to Martin Mere WWT in the nest future. We have been to Leighton Moss already - once - in the same area. We found it better to stay a long weekend in the area and no doubt we will do that again.
Have you been to Leighton Moss yet?
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Nicki C said: Bedford is an ideal place to live as it is smack bang in the middle of the UK, and it is makes all places accessible without having to move there.
So sorry to disagree Blackbird, but you are 150 miles south (at least) of the middle of the UK!!!!
The official middle of the UK is a village called Dunsop Bridge, about 6 miles from where I live in deepest darkest Lancashire!!!!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Spot on Sparrow. There is a telephone box in Dunsop Bridge with an engraved map of UK showing that what you say is true.
Pipit
Hi Sparrow {Linda}
Please call me Kathy! thank you{smile}
Remember I am originally from Scotland, and I have only lived in England for a short amount of time. I am still finding my way around - like you would if you visited Edinburgh in Scotland or Glasgow etc...
Whatever the case if Bedford is slightly off, it is an ideal place to live for us to see Reserves and it is better than staying on the East Coast in Scotland as it meant a lot more travelling to area we wanted to visit in the middle and the west of the country in Scotland. Travelling was a bind to us there.
We have access to Rutland Water, Grafham Water, Paxton Pits, The Lodge at Sandy what more can a person ask for in their lives. - we can get to London easily - transport is excellent so that is how it is without being in the centre of London which is to crowded for us. Just a great place to live for us.
Love to see Dunsop Bridge sometime in the future as it means that we will find more places to visit anyway.
Susan H said: Bedford is an ideal place to live as it is smack bang in the middle of the UK, and it is makes all places accessible without having to move there.
[/quote]
Good evening Blackbird. I have been to Leighton Moss many times, it is only about a 30 minute drive from my house. The reserve is mainly reedbeds, and has a few special birds breeding there, including Bittern, Bearded Tit, and Marsh Harrier. If you go, make sure you ask at the shop where the Eric Morecambe hide is. This is situated about a half mile from the main reserve, and overlooks Morecambe Bay. There are a couple of pools that are tidal, and get lots of good Waders during high tide.
After a day around the reserve, a visit to the restaurent back at the Centre is a must for good food and a warm drink.
Hope you enjoy the Lancashire hospitality
Hi Sparrow. Have you seen the Eagle Owls near Dunsop Bridge? They have been breeding there nwo for a couple of years I believe. Massive birds they are !!!
A B said: Hi Sparrow. Have you seen the Eagle Owls near Dunsop Bridge? They have been breeding there nwo for a couple of years I believe. Massive birds they are !!!
Hi Budgie,
I believe so, but I haven't been lucky enough to see them. I did see a hen harrier near there, though, last week. Magnificent bird.
We had a trip to Leighton Moss in November, but saw far more birds at Silverdale Cove, Morecambe Bay and Hest Bank without having to wait for hours in a hide!!! (We have no patience). However, Leighton Moss is certainly a very attractive reserve.
Hi Budgie
Thank you for your reply, and you are so lucky to live close to the reserve. The Lancashire hospitality is great when we have met people in our travels, and we find the place warm and accepting.
Leighton Moss is very addictive. Last time we went it was December time, and we where hoping to see the Bearded Tits on the grit table but no joy. We did hear a Cetti's Warbler non-stop although this one was following us around. The Bullfinches appeared over and over again on the garden feeders.
We did go to the Eric Morecambe hide and we where lucky to be able to visit duw to a lot of heavy flooding in the area at the time. We had a long chat with one of the other members in the hide - it is always like that ...that a person wants a good chat and that is a good way to get to know people
We also came across a couple with a tame Mallard which sat on my arm. Not sure what I felt about it but to have a Mallard in your arm was a different experience.
We where amazed a the amount of flocks of birds we saw and the Starling did it for us - they where something else with their inflight patterns in the sky.
Must try the food at Leighton when we go again. All the visitors Centres have nice places to eat and Leighton has a good sized restaurant to visit
We stayed at the Stan Laurel Inn at Olverston (sp) for 2 nights. Love the history of Laurel and Hardy and it is nice to know that they knew the place well, and their are statures of them in the area too.
A B said: Good evening Blackbird. I have been to Leighton Moss many times, it is only about a 30 minute drive from my house. The reserve is mainly reedbeds, and has a few special birds breeding there, including Bittern, Bearded Tit, and Marsh Harrier. If you go, make sure you ask at the shop where the Eric Morecambe hide is. This is situated about a half mile from the main reserve, and overlooks Morecambe Bay. There are a couple of pools that are tidal, and get lots of good Waders during high tide. After a day around the reserve, a visit to the restaurant back at the Centre is a must for good food and a warm drink. Hope you enjoy the Lancashire hospitality
After a day around the reserve, a visit to the restaurant back at the Centre is a must for good food and a warm drink.
Sounds like you had a fun packed visit. One thought that we always have is 'why do all these reserves concentrate on wetland birds?' I would like to visit a reserve that encourages the birds that i remember from my youth. Birds like Skylarks, Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings. How many Reserves do you know where you can go to see these birds?
True, the Reserves do concentrate on Wetland birds, over inland birds. Maybe it is the sheer Wetland numbers of the birds that the Reserves concentrate on to get the maximum people to visit the area for bird watching purposes
I think seeing Birds like Skylarks, Yellow Hammers, and Corn Buntings are possible depending on the type of area that you live close to or places you visit - farmland is a must for these birds, and not all Reserves have that in their area, or they are closed off from private land.
We are not short of walks and cycle tracks where we stay at Bedford, and there are loads of chances to seeing inland birds. At Castle Mill Sluice there are lots of calling Skylarks in springtime.
Scotland: With 'breeding' Lapwings they are in fields but only heard them mainly in Scotland once more 'Peewiting' calls etc.. Hearing birds like Curlews, and other waders calling to one another on thillsides is a key point but I only heard this going on in Scotland - yes and this miles from any water
The best place we have heard Yellow Hammers is Marston Vale, Bedford in the car park area. There is always one bird calling at least each time we have visited the reserve
Scotland: When I have lived in Farmhouses (2 times) in Scotland Yellowhammers and Skylarks are very abundant. We fed Yellow Hammers at our bird Feeder. Only seen Corn Buntings in Menorca so far but I believe that people have seen them in the UK.
With Yellow Hammers we have found that they are more abundant in Scotland - the same applies with Skylarks. One day Dave and I went for a walk and we saw a huge flock of 100 Yellow hammers eating from cattle feeders in a field - they where in a huge flock en-mass together and we still talk about it to this day.
Scotland: I personally think that 'most' Reserves are closed off form private land, and there seems to be a lot more inland birds there than England - maybe because the country is not so built up and there is more farmland for the birds to congregate.
Just my 'random' thoughts on the matter.
A B said: Sounds like you had a fun packed visit. One thought that we always have is 'why do all these reserves concentrate on wetland birds?' I would like to visit a reserve that encourages the birds that i remember from my youth. Birds like Skylarks, Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings. How many Reserves do you know where you can go to see these birds?