Nature and wildlife

mickysf
mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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edited April 2019 in Wildlife, Nature & the Great Outdoors #1

Which sites would folk recommend for getting up close with those wildlife and nature experiences many of us enjoy. Recently went to Stamford, Red Kites, Buzzards, Jays and many butterflies to be seen in the surrounding woodland. What a gem!

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  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2019 #2

    Thetford for Night Jars close to site but easy travel for the following:

    RSPB Lakenheath for cuckoo’s, Bittern’s and Hobby’s

    NWT Wheeting Heath for Stone Curlews

    SWT Lackford Lakes for King Fishers

    Lynford Arboretum for Hawe Finches and Crossbills

    Slinford Site to go to RSPB Pulborough Brooks for nightingales

     

     

     

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2019 #3

    Do you mean which CAMC sites are best used to see wildlife nearby or wildlife sites themselves as given by Oneputt?

    Anyway I'll try to give just CAMC sites but we would probably use a good CL.

    Flamborough Head for Cliff nesting Auks and Gulls (Bridlington site)

    Snettisham for Flocking Waders, especially at migration time and Geese in winter (Sandringham)

    Farne Islands for Nesting Puffins, Arctic Terns, Kittiwakes etc. but ,make sure you use a boat company that will land you on the island for an hour (A small fee as island is NT but free to members). There's no close CAMC site but Nunnykirk or Breamish are not too far away. Best with anIndependent site if you don't want to travel far.

    Ynys Hir for Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts and a Heronry. Gwern-y-Bwlch site about 15 miles away.

    Brecon Beacons or the Independent Red Kite site for Red Kites.

    Arne Nature reserve for Dartford Warblers and Adders. Use the site at Wareham.

    When I think of more I'll post.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited April 2019 #4

    Slinfold Site to go to RSPB Pulborough Brooks for nightingales

    Probably best now that Berkeley Square is within the ULEZ. wink

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2019 #5

    We used CLs to go to Stodmarsh Nature reserve near Canterbury in previous Aprils and see the returning Hobbies. Probably Hythe or Maidstone CAMC clubs would be best. It's a lovely reserve. When visiting Dungeness we again use CLs but you wouldn't be too far away at Fairlight Woods plus the reserve at Rye is very interesting and open to the public. Good area to explore at migration times.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2019 #6

    The New Forest, set up in 1079 by William The Conqueror so it's quite old and has many conservation areas. Sites. CAMC Black Knowl or others for forests, wet and dry heathland, deer herds, ponies, birds and butterflies plus the occasional adder.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2019 #7

    Whitehouse Beach (Kessingland) in late September good place to spot a Wryneck plus all sorts of migrating birds

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2019 #8

    Cley marshes Norfolk (NWT) for Spoonbills and Marsh Harriers + countless others (great cafe) 

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2019 #9

    Any of the club sites or CL’s in North Norfolk will give you access to at least a dozen wildlife reserves/places, so a great place for those interested

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2019 #10

    I remember Sea Watching from Kessingland and seeing Scoters for the first time many years ago.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited May 2019 #11

    Lots of avocets, shelduck and the odd spoonbill just down the lane from Triky's boatyard.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #12

    The Oare Marshes at Faversham is an excellent place for birdwatching. They have a few hides there. Probably best from Maidstone site . Cos are scarce in the area or you could just ask Triky.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #13

    Just come back from visiting Furnace Farm, near Machynlleth. Excellent location for visiting Ynys Hir and Dyfi Osprey. Great at this time of year and the hills above the CL just as good for Spring birds.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #14

    5 x Dotterel at Choseley Drying Barns 

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #15

    There are a couple of CLs almost next door to the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss. Found at Yealand Redmayne. If you need a site then either Kendal or Meathop would suit.

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