I've never had a proper local patch. There have been places I have visited frequently over the years (e.g. Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire), and others more infrequently (e.g. Venus Pool, Shropshire, Blacktoft Sands, and Old Moor, Yorkshire). But either due to distance, time, or the fact that they are all visited by birders with a much better claim than me, nowhere has really ever been 'mine'.
Until now.
My new house is just a stone's throw from the beach. It is on the edge of the estate, so you can walk out, and onto the long road which takes you down, past a golf course, and on to that beach. Next to this road is a cycle/walking path, which you can follow down to the beach, and then around to the right, where it follows the line of the dune system. A little way along that is a fabulous viewpoint, just perfect for sea watching.
On the one side of the road you have a 'scientific park', still to be explored, but the bushes, trees and shrubs are filled with small, never still little birds - mostly still to be identified. On the other side of the road you pass an ornamental pond on the edge of the estate (more about that in another post), and then the golf course. The habitat near to the road is again thick shrub and scrubland, with glimpses of water on the golf course.
When you reach the beach you have, well, beach and sea. Follow the cycle path round, and you have golf course and reserve on one side, and dune system on the other.
A real mix of habitats which in just 3 days have contributed to an interesting patch list.
So, finally I have a local patch. I haven't seen any other birders there, so I am staking a claim here and now.
Pity I had to come all the way to Australia to find it!
Cheryl
No comments:
Post a Comment