Broken Willow - pond above the Wetlands Discovery Zone.
Starting along the Lonning from the Wetlands Centre, there were lots of colourful Teal in front of the 1st Meadow Pool screen. At the 2nd screen on the right, a Teal was being harassed by a very irate Little Grebe, huffing and puffing and throwing weed about, trying to move the Teal. The Teal, who was not impressed, held its ground. This behaviour amongst Little Grebe is very common and is often accompanied by underwater diving and then coming up directly underneath other wildfowl – even birds as large as Mallard can be intimidated in this way. It can be amusing to watch such antics! As you can see I am very easily amused!
The day had started very misty and frosty too, but was now becoming a perfect Spring afternoon – allowing the birds to proceed with their activities.
Having called in at the hide briefly to view the countless Teal, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Mallard and Lapwing on the wetlands in front, I very much enjoyed the return route following the yellow markers of the new Loop path. I passed wonderful ponds, bridges over very small ditches, reed beds, arable fields, flooded meadows and saw a Harrier being mobbed by a Crow as it hunted over the wetlands.
Eventually I arrived at the Wetlands Discovery Zone in euphoric mood. The whole area was full of items of major interest - all beautifully landscaped: a bridge, stream and waterfall, a large pool with dipping platform, a huge badger’s set, Bug Hotel, Dragonfly sculpture and a very wet area towards the farm where large swathes of turf had been removed and a great variety of flowers and herbs had been planted (should look wonderful in the next few months and will be easily viewable from the shale path adjacent). Near the farm buildings there were wonderful benches and tables surrounded by a newly planted willow screen to accommodate on-site lectures, picnics etc. I could hardly believe the amount of transformation that had occurred recently. It must have involved huge amounts of work on the part of the Staff and Volunteers. This should be a virtual paradise for children, families and school parties.
Two Canada Geese and a pair of Mallard had already discovered the new pond!
A few images from along the way.
Wigeon on the Meadow Pools.
Mallard and Wigeon.
Teal on Meadow Pools.
Female Teal on wet meadows.
Shoveler in front of the hide.
Buzzard on fence - seen from hide.
View from the new loop path across the wetlands towards the Moss.
Buzzard soaring above.
Two Buzzards interacting.
Wonderful pools - good habitat for Woodcock and Snipe.
Further pools on the way.
Tremendous panoramas looking back across the farmland towards the distant Fells.
Nearing the Wetlands Discovery Zone and Solway Wetlands Centre now.
Mallard and Canada Geese have already discovered the new pond.
Canada Geese on the island in the new pond.
Newly constructed Troll bridge and weir.
Work still in progress prior to the official opening of the Wetlands Discovery Zone.