Home of Shaun Villiers Everett
Blog and Published Pages
Went back to Frampton Marshes this week. Quite active site. The Spoonbills are still there, but i never saw them. These shots taken towads the 360 degree hide in the tall Teasel.
There was a nice display from two Lapwings. Film to follow.
Last Wednesday I went on a walk in Cambridgeshire with an RSPB warden on a growing local reserve, The following film records a murmeration that we not expecting. The starlings were likely all fledglings of this year. They ‘were maybe, learning their craft’. Fascinating to see them join in as ‘squadrons’!
If you want to see such sights join your local RSPB group or go out and find them for yourselves.
Quite close to Stamford in Lincolnshire and the A1 road, is this delightful and important wildlife reserve. Several species of orchids and scarce butterflies, etc. The Marbled White was in abundance Saturday 8th July 2017, together with some orchids including the Pyramidal orchid. Here’s a selection:
Cons: Not suitable for disabled as path is steep and bumpy. No facilities. Dofg walkers abound.
First summer visit to Wicken since about 1993! Yes that long. Much to see, and the Early Marsh Orchids are bloomi
ng marvelous! In 1993, there were about 20, but this year it is in the hundreds if not thousands! Well done NT.
I aslo noticed this specimen on my visit on the Summer trail (West of site). I believe it to be the Southern Marsh Orchid or an outside chance of it being the Marsh Fragrent Orchid. It was at least 9 inches of bloom, which is what caught my eye.
Sadly, no sightings of Hen Harriers, but I heard this week that they have but four breeding pairs in England right now! Wicken Fen is worth a visit, butt ake the insect repellant!
Spent a very good afternoon and evening at Frampton Marshes on the border of Norfolk and Lincolnshire. Run by the RSPB, the staff were friendly and te facilties mmaculate. The outlook onto the scapings was amazing, with Little Egrets just a few metres in front of me! Too easy for a photo though!
If you have never seen t he Nightjar, well you are not alone. As a nocturnal creature, you just get fleeting glances of it at dusk and at dawn. I went to Dersingham Bog Nature Reserve in North Norfolk at the weekend with the RSPB and had my first sightings of this strange bird. In fact it is only in silloette that you see it, but even that is a great sight, given the way it flies. Firstly, there’s the sound as it comes out. A ‘churring’ sound best desribes it, and it cannot be mixed up with any other bird. Incidentally, a Nightjar is also known as a Goat-Sucker!
Then it is on the wing and flaps around across the heathland, which is its favourite habitat. Whilst waiting a sighting, the Barn Owl and Short-Eared or Little Owl were a welcome sighting as was the Woodcock in flight. At one point the Nightjar sat next to a Short Eared Owl on a branch in the far distance. Even stanger!
Before Dersinham Bog, we went to the Sandringham Estate. Not much to say about the bird life, but I snapped a common bue damselfly and a Speckled Wood Butterfly.
Oh yes and apparently Pooh Bear lives here!
On the south bank of the Thames in central London, Jason deCaires Taylor has created this sculpture. Accessible at low tide, but submersion at high tide is also as spectacular. Here’s some photo I took at the weekend:
River Crouch from Wallasea Island
I checked out Wallasea Island last week to see how the new extentions to the land were progressing. It’s going to become as wonderful wildlife reserve once all the construction traffic has been removed. I think they are there till 2019, so don’t hold your breath! However, it is still a nice country, or rather sea wall walk, with some fine views. Birds are scarce where the paths are as they are close to the construction traffic. I did see a few waders and possibly some Avocets on the far bank of one of the new lgoons being constructed.
Getting to it is not easy. It’s not signposted until you see ‘Wallasea Island’ some way north of Rochford. The reserve is about 9 miles north of Southend on Sea and 12 miles south of Chelmsford. Best approach from the north is via the A130 and the bridge over the River Crouch at Battlesbridge.
During the winter I suspect there is a good chance of flooding on the approach road. The facilities consist of a shelter, one of the latest eco-shelters. (See photo below). That’s it and the car park is small right now, enough for about twenty cars or so.
More information can be found here
Went to Wallasea Island in South Essex today. I will report on the changes at RSPB soon, but here’s a single picture from one of the local creeks.
Wallasea Island, Essex, Shaun Villiers-Everett July 2015
One of my getaway places is Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, not far off the A10 north of Ely. So many superlatives cover this area of ancient wetland. One of a few left after much drainage throughout the fens. You will see creatures you only imagined existed! Not mythical of course, but a huge range of bugs and dragonflies await the patient observer. Wear insect repellent!!!