Campfield Marsh

A male Migrant Hawker flew into my orchard and landed on a damson branch right in front of me, where it proceeded to sun itself for a few minutes. It came in from the direction of the Reserve Discovery Pool which was only a few hundred yards away over my garden boundary field drain. The afternoon was overcast with occasional bursts of sunshine.

Females have a propensity for laying eggs on the stems of Reed Mace and Yellow…

16th August

16th August -  Curlew landing on saltmarsh.

Snipe, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit foraging on International Pools.

Goldfinches feasting on thistle seed heads.

Kestrel hunting along the Lonning.

Teal flying into International Pools.

 Teal showing short white wing bar and glossy green speculum.

19th August.

Grey Heron fishing the tideline at high tide.

20th August.

Small Tortoiseshell on Ragwort.

21st…

1st August.

South end of International Pools - now flooded (View from new viewpoint - 'Marjorie Kingsland' Viewpoint

Black-headed Gulls round south end of International Pools.

Canada Goose and juveniles on International Pools.

Lapwings and Starlings gleaning the recently cut Hay Meadow.

Lapwings and Starlings in the Hay Meadow.

This year's hay harvest.

Wildflowers on bunds along the Blue Route.

Corn…

19th July

Female Blue-tailed Damselfly egg-laying on Lonning vegetation.

Great Willow Herb along Lonning.

Little Egret flying along new saltmarsh lagoons.

Waders and Gulls off Scargavel Point at low tide.

Little Grebe on Paisley Pools.

21st July

Juvenile Coal Tit.

Oystercatcher roost off Byers Cottage.

Dunlin, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit at Port Carlisle, in Summer plumage.

Common Sandpiper in harbour at…

16th July

In Spring the Thursday workparty sowed wildflower seeds along the then very muddy bunds, placed so as to protect the Blue Route path from the electrified fence. The intervening months have been extremely dry, but with recent showers, surprisingly the vegetation has sprung into life and these spectacular displays of Corn Marigold, Corn Cockle, Cornflower, Scentless Mayweed and Common Red Poppy delighted me as…

This week I have asked our area manager David Morris to write a blog celebrating the unique and important nature of the bog here at Campfield Marsh and some of the tough challenges we face over its management. 

Two weeks ago, on the 26^th July the world celebrated International Bog Day, an annual event, in celebration of bogs, fens & swamps to raise awareness of peatlands – the benefits they provide, the threats they face…

2th July

Lapwings and corvids round new saltmarsh lagoons.

Shelduck landing on the mudflats.

Shelduck foraging on the mudflats . . .

. . . large numbers have been gathering along this strip of the Solway.

5th July.

Shelduck and Mallard on mudflats.

6th July.

Common Buzzard flying over Paisley Pools.

Greylags taking off  . . .

. . . and flying over Paisley Pools.

Reedmace on Farm Pond - showing male (light) and…

2nd July

Blue Route path  flanked by wildflower seeded bunds.

Wildflower seeds sown in Spring by the Campfield Thursday Work party, along the muddy bunds which protect the path from the electrified predator fence, are now in full bloom. And what a splendid sight they are - most spirit uplifting!

If you only do one walk this season - this is a must. The Route starts off from the car park, through the Discovery Field and carries…

15th June

Chiffchaff with caterpillar on saltmarsh.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly nectaring among the Lonning vegetation.

Latticed Heath Moth (day flying)  along the marsh edge.

Silver Y Moth on foxglove leaves along the saltmarsh.

Teneral Azure Damselfly

17th June.

Red sunrise over the saltmarsh forecasting deteriorating weather later in the day.

Thunderclouds over the marsh later.

16th June.

Little Egret and Lapwings…

A glorious Midsummer hot windless sunny day brought out butterflies in profusion to the Lonning: Speckled Woods, Red Admirals, Meadow Browns, Small Tortoiseshells, Green Veined Whites, Large Skippers, Large Whites and a surprising Painted Lady (the first I've seen here this year). Moths also were in evidence: Silver Y, Chimney Sweeper and Common Carpet Moths.

A territorial male Speckled Wood perching on sunlit vegetation…