PDA

View Full Version : An afternoon at Sandy, RSPB Headquarters, Bedford.


Hazelnuts
22nd February 2009, 05:57 PM
Hi there

We had one or two highlights today, and we enjoyed strolling around for a couple of hours at the Sandy Reserve, listening to the bird song.

What a great day today. The first thing that happened just before we went to Sandy was my OH seeing a Female Sparrowhawk (her size gave it away) just close to our kitchen window. The garden we have was devoid of birds for a good while afterwards. Great to see that. :D

Then we had a great afternoon out at Sandy at the RSPB Headquarters. We did the 2 hour walk watching all birds that flitted in all directions. The first thing we heard by the RSPB Ksiok was a Treecreeper, but we did not see it though. A Green woodpecker could be heard in the distance throughout our whole walk. We never saw it though.

Stopped off at the birdhide, and watched the birds at the feeders for a while. There where Long Tail tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, lots of Chaffinches (they spent most of their time bathing in the pool close to the bird feeders). A Robin tried to scare every bird of his patch and it was funny to watch LOL. He fluffed himself up, and gave chase at every opportunity that he got.

The highlight of the day was to see Siskins on the Nyger feeder. First a Female appeared, and disappeared a couple of times. She was then joined by a male Siskin - they are such beautiful little birds.
A huge rabbit appeared and sat for a while under the feeder eating the seeds that had been dropped on the floor.

As we continued our walk, we came across a couple sitting on a bench with a Robin sitting a branch closeby giving its own personal serenade to the couple as they sat there listening to him. It was very endearing to listen too.
I see that the man had a scope, and specialised kit. I thought it might have been a good opportunity to do some serious photography but i think the robin may have been scared off by all the movement.

Lots of Long tail Tits flitting around as we walked to our car in the Carpark. Their little calls to one another give it away all of the time.

I have posted a couple of pictures. The first picture was of the sightings for the day, (by the ksiok in the carpark) and I took a picture of it as the RSPB update their sighting on their website once a week, and not everyday. So having a picture helps in advance.

Hazelnuts
22nd February 2009, 06:15 PM
Picture 1 - Latest Sightings at the Reserve at sandy
Picture 2 - Bird hide showing Rabbit eating food under the feeders.
Picture 3 - The fallen leaves made the canopy look white but it is just the leaves that have turned that colour
Picture 4 - Robin singing in bush
Picture 5 - Knarled Trees

Hazelnuts
22nd February 2009, 07:00 PM
Picture 6 - Information about Quarry
Picture 7 - Information about Quarry
Picture 8 - View across Bedfordshire
Picture 9 - Part of the walk - inviting pathways
Pcture 10 -Sky changing at 3.30pm in the afternoon

Hazelnuts
23rd February 2009, 11:46 AM
Hi there

After our enjoyable afternoon out, we are considering going for another trip to Paxton Pitts which is another Reserve close to us. It is a disused quarry as Sandy RSPB Headquarters shows too. Disused quarries seem to make the best habitats for wildlife and birds. :)

We heard that this is the best time of year to see Bullfinches. So we will keep our eyes peeled for them.
Will write a report on this thread as the two places are quite close to one another so they are in the same patch. :)

The weather is supposed to be mild this week, so look forward to a visit to Paxton-Pitts. Now it is a question if the weather holds or not

Jandy
23rd February 2009, 04:17 PM
It's nice for you living near to Sandy, Hazelnuts. we went there once and really enjoyed it. It was in summer,and I remember watching the sand martins, as well as all the other birds in their varied habitats. But that was when we had the car.

Hazelnuts
23rd February 2009, 04:51 PM
It's nice for you living near to Sandy, Hazelnuts. we went there once and really enjoyed it. It was in summer,and I remember watching the sand martins, as well as all the other birds in their varied habitats. But that was when we had the car.

Hi Jandy

Thank you for your comments.

You are very lucky to see Sandmartins in their nests as they are quite rare to see.

The only time we have ever seen Sandmartins nesting was at Montrose Basin Scottish Wildlife Trust Centre, and Forfar Loch in Scotland.This was in man made nests - concrete Wall with holes in it - not in sand cliffs.

Where did you see your Sandmartins? Was it in the old quarry near the main offices at Sandy. I have thought that it looked like a likely environment for Sandmartin. I have only walked around Sandy in the Winter so far. I will make a point of having a look there in the nesting season, not long now can already notice the nights getting a bit longer.

Jandy
1st March 2009, 05:36 PM
It was so long ago, Kathy, that I can't quite remember. I think it was quite a walk to it, but of course we might have been approaching the main offices another way. I think the sand cliff overlooked a sort of marshy lake or wetland area. We had our two smallish children with us, and I got a bit distracted at times. Nowadays of course I get distracted in other ways - I keep putting off things because I am so engrossed in looking out of the window at the birds' antics.