Campfield Marsh

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…

At the beginning of March, at one of the last work parties before lockdown, the Thursday Volunteers sowed wild flower seeds

on the bunds created to keep people apart from the electric predator fence.

The following two months or more were the driest most of us can remember and the lack of rain made us wonder if any of the seeds would germinate; but when Neil and I walked round the blue trail this week we were pleasantly…

1st June

Large Skipper Butterfly

4th June

Male Whitethroat in full song.

5th June.

Birds on Centre feeders.

Canada Geese with goslings on Paisley Pools.

Kestrel hunting over saltmarsh.

Grey Heron foraging on Paisley Pools

Oystercatcher nesting on newly excavated area of saltmarsh.

6th June.

Willow Warbler catching insects.

Bees and flies attracted to Hemlock Water Dropwort flowers.

Immature female Azure Damselfly…

 20th May

A rather worn Peacock Butterfly.

A Green-veined White Butterfly on Centre planters

Male Orange-tip Butterfly on planters, too.

Green-veined White on planters.

 A rather good clump of Star of Bethlehem amongst Bluebells at Reserve entrance.

Canada Goose on Paisley Pools. It that a gosling with it?

Female Azure Damselfly on Lonning vegetation.   

  Male Azure Damselfly.

Blackbirds having a welcome dip after rain…

News from Dave Blackledge. Site Manager, Cumbria Coastal RSPB Reserves.

Along with many other reserves the car park and permissive paths will be open at Campfield from Saturday morning.  The visitor centre, toilets and hide have to remain closed, but folk are free to come and visit with a few signs up to remind people to distance and be sensible.

1st May

Male Blackcap on roadside hedge.

3rd May

Bluebells in flower along the Lonning.

Buff-tailed Bumblebees in profusion.

Buzzard hunting from predator fence post round Paisley Pools.

Male Canada Goose in waiting - Paisley Pools.

There are now four Beltie Calves on Holton Fen.

Male Mallards in fly-around.

Male Mallard taking a dip on a hot day.

4th May

Whimbrel foraging in meadow.

5th May

Belties on causeway…

Fortunately towards the end of the month, we were graced with a lot of sunny weather and much warmer conditions which should be conducive to the start of the breeding season.

21st April

Greylags strolling along the mudflats in the evening sunlight.

22nd April

Swallows have arrived back - seen flying over the Wetlands Centre buildings.

First Large Red Damselfly seen this season - a female sp.typica.

Mallard pair on Paisley…

During my daily exercise walk onto the Reserve on 26th April, it was apparent that the sunny weather of late was taking its toll on the newly created scrapes and pools, as many of them have completely dried up. However, a couple were created in the Hay Meadow area (meadow north west of the hide) which have not and they are attracting a range of birds: Redshank, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Lapwing, Pied Wagtail and a good flock of…

Although the Reserve is closed, the public footpath through can still be accessed, so I am fortunate to be able to use it for a daily walk from my home nearby.

13th April

Oystercatchers and Whimbrel on the tideline.tideline

Chiffchaff in gorse near Lonning entrance.

Linnets overlooking arable field.

Moorhen on Paisley Pools.

15th April

Linnets foraging in newly ploughed arable field.

Pair of Canada Geese round Paisley…

C19 update - With 'stay at home' restrictions being in force and the Reserve, Wetlands Centre and Hide being closed, one might wonder how we manage to keep the Campfield Community Blog up to date without flouting the rules.

Firstly, our property is virtually surrounded by the RSPB Reserve and our allowed daily walk, whichever way we go, automatically takes us on to the Reserve. The Reserve is closed with the exception…

These images would normally run as a slideshow in the Wetlands Centre but as the Reserve and Centre are closed, for the time being, they are published here so that the work which has recently transformed the Reserve, gets an airing.