Our visit to North Cave and Calley Heath was very much enjoyed by a small group of 9 people. North Cave is a favourite reserve and it has developed tremendously since our first visit. It has attracted a wide range of birds who have settled and bred there. We were able to view the new developments which include the creation of an extensive lowland grassland area which will attract waders such as snipe and lapwing also new species such as wigeon and curlew. A visitors centre will shortly be opening.
The party completed a circular tour of the reserve, initially calling in at the East Hide then moving to the Turret Hide. We viewed a bonanza of birding activity. It was lovely to see the birds with their young broods moving around the lakes in convoy. Numerous species had bred including avocets, lapwing, shellduck, mallard, gadwall and greylag geese.Other birds seen were little grebe, red shank, ringed plover, reed bunting, swifts and swallows not forgetting the black swan - a total of 43 species for the day.
The botanists were equally pleased with their findings. Conditions were somewhat dry however 73 plant species were recorded for North Cave including fiddle neck, storksbill. weld and celery leaved buttercup amongst many more species.Although conditions were windy and somewhat dull 6 species of butterfly were seen including common blue, green veined white, speckled wood, orange tip, small skipper and meadow brown.
We moved onto Calley Heath to consider the special flora of a recently restored lowland heath(a nationally scarce habitat).The YWT volunteer group has been recently involved in conservation work including hedgelaying and scrub clearance. A flock of hebridean sheep have been introduced to eat the harder grasses of an enclosed field thus encouraging the more interesting plants including common storksbill, sheep sorrel and common centaury.The rarities shepherd's cress and heath cudweed were not seen athough their location was pointed out to us by John from the YWT who we met on our return to the entrance gate.
The weather had been kind to us although windy it was nevertheless a fine day with some sunshine. It had been a full if pleasantly tiring day .
There should be lots of pics from Janet, Stuart and Margaret.
Margaret