For our Anniversary visit, 14 hardy souls set off for Staveley hoping that the rain would ease enough for us to bird watch. The first section of the reserve is through woodland which tested our song recognition skills. We heard Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler and then an obliging male Blackcap posed for several minutes at the top of an Elder.
On to the large hide, noting some Bee Orchids on the way, we escaped the showers. Here we saw Lapwing with well-grown young, a range of ducks, geese and gulls and a Little Ringed Plover.
We then moved to the 2 smaller hides. The dominant species was easy to see and hear – the Reed Bunting. We also had good views of Sedge Warbler and a fine singing male Reed Warbler. Here we had good views of the Common Terns on their nesting raft. We noticed many Common Spotted Orchids but the rain kept away the expected butterflies.
Despite the rain, we all agreed we’d enjoyed the visit. 40+ species recorded
Photos of Reed Warbler by Ian Hughes. Leader Win Clements