Campfield Marsh

7th November

In the early morning sunshine, in the region of 800 Barnacles were frequenting the saltmarsh from the Viaduct west to Scargavel Point.

Initially a group first landed out on the mudflats . . .

. . . and tentatively made its way up onto the saltmarsh.

 - group on the saltmarsh.

These flying west were a little uncertain but turned and landed on seeing another group already grazing on the saltmarsh.

Others…

21st October

Overcast with a westerly wind. Fairly warm.

Seven Little Egret flying west over the saltmarsh at high tide.

22 Barnacles could be seen grazing the saltmarsh in front of the hamlet of West Common.

23rd October

Daily, groups of Barnacles flying back and forth along the saltmarsh. 

A handful of Barnacles grazing on the saltmarsh.

24th October.

A flock of 77 Pintail floated along as the tide was ebbing.…

It seems a long time ago now that devil's bit scabious plants, all neatly and individually potted, appeared beside the visitor centre at Campfield. At first there were said to be 1500 plants, then somehow the number grew to 2000, all needing to be planted on the reserve. The food plant of the rare marsh fritillary butterfly, they were to be planted to encourage the butterfly to spread from the the remote part of the…

Over the last few days of high tides the saltmarsh and its new lagoons have been flooded. This has attracted large numbers of waders and wildfowl to its midst resulting in thousands of Geese (mainly Barnacles), Oystercatchers and Lapwing. It is pleasing to see that the substantial remodelling which took place over the last Autumn and Winter is paying dividends.

17 10 20

Greylags landing on Saltmarsh Pool.

Greylags…

18th September.

Male Migrant Hawker still flying around.

Wheatear on saltmarsh driftwood.

19th September.

Mature female Common Darter.

20th September.

Mature female Black Darter on side of Kingsland Viewpoint.

Male and female Black Darters along Red Route.

Buzzard on Osprey Platform.

Reed Mace in Discovery field.

Ox-eyed Daisies along wildflower bunds.

21st September.

Fly Agaric in hamlet garden.

Oystercatcher…

1st September.

Male Migrant Hawker.

Forest Bug :- pentatoma refipes

Speckled Wood Butterfly.

Small Tortoiseshell on Apple Mint.

4th September.

Distant Buzzard on predator fence overlooking Paisley Pools.

Teal landing on Holton Fen - Pool in front of hide .

Teal landing.

. . . and such excitement.

Shoveler taking off from Holton Fen.

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly basking in sunshine on Lonning track.

Gulls roosting…

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…