Far Ings National Nature Reserve, 14 November 2009
Gold at Rainbow’s End
When gales and floods recently threatened most of the country the intrepid members of the Rochdale Field Naturalists’ Society headed across the Pennines to a Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Reserve. In the shadow of the towering Humber Bridge they found a sheltered oasis at the Far Ings National Nature Reserve.
Centuries old clay pits, now filled with freshwater, and extensive beds of common reed are managed for the benefit of wildlife. A public footpath along the Humber Bank provided excellent views over the reserve as well as the estuary. On the bank a few plants were still flowering, including the Bristly Ox-Tongue, an unusual species in the north of England. At low tide many wading birds such as Oystercatcher, the handsome Golden Plover, Redshank, Dunlin, Snipe, Godwit and Curlew were feeding on the estuarine marsh and mudflats. There were also a few Pink Footed Geese newly arrived from Iceland for the winter.
Along the old farm tracks dense hedgerows of hawthorn and spindle gave shelter from the wind and blackberries and the glistening red fruits of the guelder rose and bittersweet were available for finches and tits to feast on. In the open meadows the seedheads of teasels attracted large flocks of brightly coloured Goldfinches and Greenfinches. Here various species of fungi were identified, such as Inkcaps, Parrot Waxcap and the less common Blue Roundhead, whilst on tree trunks and decaying timber the more common Blushing Bracket and Candlesnuff fungus were found.
As the winds chased the clouds eastward a thin veil of moisture was dramatically transformed into a perfect rainbow, mirroring the shape of the graceful span of the bridge with one foot on each bank – leading us on to find its treasures. And the treasures were rich indeed.
There was a wealth of waterfowl on the calm sheltered pools. The soft autumn sunshine provided ideal conditions for watching the activities of Swans, Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, Teal, Goldeneye, Shoveler and other ducks as they fed and preened.
Soon, to everyone’s delight, two of the most iconic birds of the reserve made an appearance. A powerful Marsh Harrier swept over and started quartering the reed beds looking for prey. Then the elusive Bittern flew over, displaying in the sunshine its amber and brown plumage, which keeps it so well camouflaged in the reed beds. But that was only the warm up for the main performance when the Bittern landed in front of the bird hide and posed obligingly for photographs. This was definitely the golden moment of the day.
As dusk descended and the starlings started massing for their evening roost we returned to Rochdale oblivious of the torrential rain.
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| Bittern | Bittern | Bittern | Shaggy Parasol |
Photographs by Jill Islam and Peter Francis
