Page 5 - Out Birding Autumn 2024

Throughout the day, we had fine views of storks flying on the thermals (eight at one 􏰀me), foraging on the ground and flying material into nests. I spo􏰁ed two of the Knepp Stork volunteers with feeding buckets and stopped them to ask if they could tell the us more about the Stork Project. We learnt there are about fi􏰂y storks, half rescued (mostly from Poland) and unable to fly and half wild free-flying birds. The rescue birds o􏰂en nest on the ground in a protected area and have supplementary feeding, hence the buckets we saw.
On our way to Hammer Pond, we saw a Beau􏰀ful Demoiselle damselfly nestling on bramble leaves. At the pond we watched several of the common waterbirds, including a Great Crested Grebe on the nest. Swallows flew around us. Then the so􏰂 purring of a Turtle Dove was heard close by in the willows but we could not locate it – later we found one perched on telephone wires for all to see which flew off over our heads (thanks to Lesley for spo􏰃ng this).
Birdsong accompanied us throughout the mostly sunny day although it was cloudier early on. Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Cuckoo and Nigh􏰀ngales sang all around and we were especially lucky to have good views of Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. Our resident birds also sang in good heart with Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Wren and Song Thrush compe􏰀ng with our summer visitors.
As we sat with picnics, large herds of Long Horn Ca􏰁le and Fallow Deer were grazing in the centre of our field below a large stork nest in the oak. Earlier a volunteer had beckoned us to view a li􏰁er of Tamworth piglets with sow, nestling in a warm muddy patch off the footpath. We all agreed to keep this sigh􏰀ng to ourselves, not sharing it on social media, to avoid some of the stress which had led to fatali􏰀es among the pigs from visitor behaviour.
Not only storks but several raptors were enjoying the thermals. Buzzards rose high in the sky, a pair of Kestrels hunted together and Red Kites flew low overhead. Heading back. we stopped for a while at a new viewpoint overlooking the wooded valley where we counted five stork nests and where there was the only sea􏰀ng available on the estate in the form of large logs! However, back at the café, many of us enjoyed cake and hot drinks and were able to sit cha􏰃ng together. Some of us went on to visit the wildlife art exhibi􏰀on which was very impressive as were the prices.
My warm thanks to all who came: Linda and Sandra; Michael and David; Lesley; Geoffrey; Kath and Norma; Kev and Alan. We were par􏰀cularly pleased to welcome Kev to his first SE Coastal Region event.
Carol Goulden
RSPB Marshside 04/05/2025
Eight members met at RSPB Marshside, on the coastal road north of Southport. The weather was cool and a bit blowy. This reserve is modest but surprisingly rich in bird- life and we spotted 48 different species.
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