Starting off at the Visitors Centre and heading down the Lonning on this particular day, flocks of Fieldfares and Linnets soon came into sight.



Linnets in arable field hedge near farm . . .


. . . and Fieldfares also.


Ripe Holly berries looking inviting.


Linnets on Alders round the farm Pond . . .


. . . with Fieldfares dropping in at intervals.

Further along, the large Ash tree near the gate to the 1st Meadow Pool was draped with Fieldfares. The white feathers left behind on the Pool were evidence of the Whooper Swans that had been heard coming in at dusk.. Currently a pair of Shovelers, a Grey Heron and a Little Egret were present.


Fieldfare flock in Ash tree . . .


. . . and a close-up.


Swan down on the surface of the Pool.


Shoveler pair.

On the opposite side of the Lonning Teal, Shoveler and Wigeon were using the pool created in the flooded meadow. Looking beyond, the hedgerows were alive with Fieldfares busily flying from one hedge to another.


Teal plumage glinting in the sunshine.

Fieldfares on far hawthorn hedges looking east across the meadows from the Lonning . . .

. . . and more flying in.

Reaching the hide, a good place to sit and stare for a while. There is always some activity taking place on the wetlands in front. 8 Little Egret were currently foraging amongst the reeds on the right towards the wood. A Kestrel peacefully hunting was disturbed by a Crow which took exception to its activity. Teal were pottering about on the Pool to the left. A distant skein of Pinkfeet could be seen flying east beyond the left-hand wood


Kestrel hovering over wetlands.


Corvid and Kestrel interaction.


Little Egrets foraging amongst the reeds . . .

. . . and keeping mobile.

Periodic flights of duck over the wetlands.


A Mallard flyby.


Teal on hide Pool.


A sudden flight of Pinkfeet seen lying east.

After a pleasant half hour sojourn in the hide, the last leg of the Blue Route beckoned. Passing through the gate from the Lonning, immediately activity along the hedgerows beyond was visible. Nearing the first corner of the track, a flock of Fieldfares could be clearly seen moving around the hawthorn hedges ahead.

Flock of Fieldfares moving about the Hawthorn hedges . . .


. . .  and landing on a bush ahead.

The sun was by now starting to set and it was casting a warm glow on everything. Rounding the corner the arable field came into view. A substantial flock of Linnets were scavenging amongst it (Mhairi had counted in the region of 300 on her last check). They were restlessly flying back and forth between the field and the hedgerows round about.


Linnets flying off the arable field . . .


. . . and landing on the hedgerow beyond.


A group catching the now warm evening sunlight.

I could not fail to stop for a moment and take in the distant vista this route affords, across the Moss towards Skiddaw and the Lakeland fells.


The Moss towards Scafell and the Lakeland Fells.

Heading back to the Centre now, another skein of Pinkfeet came right overhead - but instead of this time carrying on they turned, circling several times before landing out of sight into an adjacent field to the east.

Pinkfeet overhead . . .


. . . and then changing direction . . .


. . . and landing in adjacent field.

Passing along the track bordering the middle arable field, a Buzzard which had been quietly sitting amongst trees to the left, flew out and landed on top of a power line pole.

Buzzard hunting at dusk. 

The sun by now was well down towards the horizon and it cast an fiery glow through the clouds beyond the trees.


A fitting end to an excellent walk!