You’ll get wet. But if you go down tomorrow, you’ll still get wet. But Thursday is looking better.
But if you do go down there, you’ll be able to follow our lovely new sort of path to a sort of viewing platform where you stand a very good chance of seeing our roosting long-eared owl.
our roosting long-eared owl by Peter Garbutt
It’s a sort of path because it has been made quickly, and is made of path dust without any foundations, and the viewing platform is spoil with path dust on top. It’s best to wear wellies …………. just in case.
To get there, go through Haverton gate, and stay left, don’t go up the wild flower walk, head towards the Port Clarence scrub (I lied about the woods). Go through another cattle grid and at the bend of the track, you should see a waymark post with a caterpillar green top. Follow the caterpillar green topped posts and you’re there. While men may have difficulty working out what caterpillar green is, any ladies should have no trouble. Although, we don't want ladies hanging around there for too long, or we'll end up with cushions all over the place.
The owl roosts about 1.5m form the ground in an old hawthorn / willow hedge line. It’s remarkably well camouflaged so good luck. The sun tends to get behind it in the afternoon, so best viewing is in the morning.
We’ve recently tried to block off an informal path that has caused some disturbance to this owl, but some photographers are a determined (and selfish) bunch. Hopefully, this viewing platform will help put an end to that sort of thing.
Interestingly, that area appears to be much warmer than the rest of the reserve. It’s a very sheltered spot, and a pleasant place to dig, even in November. Clever Long-eared owl.