Our visit to the Lodge on Tuesday was made in persistent drizzly rain. It only let up briefly but for the most part we were under cover of trees. It was easy to find and we had a quick look at the feeders in the picnic area outside the shop. They were filled with Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tits, Great Tits and more Chaffinches than i've ever seen before! There were quite a few juveniles there too.
We walked around the nature trails and down past the actual Lodge, which was busy with workers and bigger than I thought. Some of the trees near by were huge and looked quite amazing.
Down in the woods towards the quarry it was well covered with the trees and ferns but not a bird in sight! It was beautiful though and we ended up taking quite a hike up and down through the woods.
Finally we came back around to the Lodge and got a little lost in the gardens and around the buildings but made our way eventually back up the trail.
We stopped in the hide twice which overlooks Jack's pond and has several feeders and were the only people around apart from people who worked there just about the whole time we were there.
Now I really cursed not having a good camera today as I got my second ever sighting of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, male, female and juvenile at different times on the feeders outside the hide. They were posed perfectly and we could have got some amazing shots 0h well.... There is also a handy book in the hide which helps with any id your not too sure of.
We stayed in the hide a while watching all the activity, again there were Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tits, Blue Tits along with Coal Tits, Crows, Dunnocks, a rabbit and a couple of squirrels.
We spent almost three hours there and maybe it was the rain but I was a little underwhelmed with it. I think that was down to me though I was expecting a little too much with it being the RSPB headquarters - hyped it up in my head! I could quite happily have spent longer there despite the rain but with the kids in tow it wasn't going to happen.
Just means we'll have to go back again and hope for better weather!
Lucky you seeing the Woodpeckers but what a shame the weather wasn't good, I do think it is easy to expect too much of Nature reserves, I have done the same myself but I suspect the weather didn't help you at all. Lovely photos on your last post too Pam, have a lovely holiday!
ReplyDeleteHi, the Woodpeckers were great to watch, i've only seen one before and then only briefly!
ReplyDeleteWe had a great holiday but not much wildlife spotting apart from on the Serpentine in London, will post more on that soon.