Getting to RSPB St Aidan's early in the morning was a new experience for me. The birds were already singing loudly, and I was excited to find out which sound was which bird!
Our guide met us outside and pointed out a couple of the birds that we could hear around the carpark and Little Owl Café. There were birds I already recognised like blackbirds and robins, but also the distinctive chiffchaff who’s two toned song gives the bird its name.
We walked down the hill and the tunes seemed to change. We heard cetti’s warblers, sedge warblers and willow warblers, and even managed to spot a few of them as they sat facing out towards the top of the young trees. It was fascinating to be able to stop and pick out the different calls and challenge ourselves to try and spot the birds calling.
The sound of St Aidan’s changed again as we moved away from the trees and out towards the water and reedbeds. Here there were wading birds, geese with young goslings trailing behind them and the call of a bittern.
We were able to spot some great crested grebes displaying to each other by doing their weed dance (though I was only able to catch this photo later in the walk where one male gave us a beautifully close swim by). And our guide set up his telescope to give some amazing views of oystercatcher, redshank, and other, now rare, wading birds.
We were able to spot all six of the star species for RSPB St Aidan’s. From the numerous black-headed gulls to the shy, black-necked grebe, we even managed to spot one of the bitterns flying over the reedbeds. A first for me in any one trip!
There are lots of other guided walks on the Aire Valley calendar, from Wildflower to Nocturnal Wildlife Walks and even Birding for Beginners. I can’t wait to come again and learn more and see this area in a different light!
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