Last Saturday saw the start of our summer season events with 'A walk on the wild side' with local resident Ray Chiverton, and here is a little snippet of how we got on...
On an overcast but warm morning a small, but enthusiastic group gathered at the Visitor Centre wanting to learn more about wildlife and an introduction to a reserve and area they had not visited before. We set off to explore and soon came across the cinnabar moth caterpillars in their bright yellow and black warning colours who had virtually decimated the particular ragwort they were on and need to find a new food source before they decide to turn cannibal! We took in the various herbs and plants known for medicinal uses along the path and were dwarfed by the teasels, some of which are now towering above my head. Their purple flowers are attracting lots of butterflies, bees and other pollinators and later in the year, the seed heads will provide food for birds like goldfinches.
Another plant that caught our eye was the burdock which has been so prolific our volunteers have had to 'encourage' it off the pathways. If you look closely at the flowers you can see the little hooks on the bracts that cling to clothes and animals fur like Velcro helping dispersal.
Arriving at the hide we set up the scope and enjoyed the resident avocets (with immature birds from the breeding pairs at Medmerry), black-tailed godwits in their glorious brick red summer plumage, lapwing and shelduck.
Ferry Pool. Photo © Ray Chiverton
Just beyond the Ferry we found this little egret far too intent on looking for lunch than he was bothered about us watching, giving very privileged views of what is normally quite a flighty bird.
Little egret. Photo © Ray Chiverton
Following the footpath down along Long Pool we found the great crested grebe family, little grebes, reed buntings and very noisy coot amongst the reeds. On the other side of the path skylarks serenaded us before giving excellent views and meadow pipits and a stonechat and buzzards soared into view. At the end of Long Pool we stopped to take in the harbour and the birds taking advantage of the rich pickings in the soft silt exposed by the low tide including redshank, curlew, oystercatchers, grey heron, dunlin to name a few. It was here that we suddenly became aware of the amount of skippers in the long grass around us.
Skipper. Photo © Ray Chiverton
Walking back we noted many more butterflies emerging as the day warmed up with red admirals, small whites, peacocks and so many meadow browns and gatekeepers getting in on the act. A striking red common darter dragonfly settled briefly and those quick on the draw managed to get a couple of shots. More obliging were the bugs like this thick-kneed beetle!
A lovely morning, with good company and I think we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.