Another visit to RSPB Bowling Green Marsh followed by a walk past the grounds of Powderham Castle on the other side of the estuary - 18th March 2026

On Wednesday, 18th March, I went by train to Topsham and visited Bowling Green Marsh for a second time during my week long visit to East Devon

One Spoonbill was standing at the end of the grassy land in the middle of the lagoon

It preened its feathers

and then flew away!

There were lots of Wigeon on the lagoon

a Black swan sailed majestically past all the Wigeon and other ducks

Pair of Eurasian Teal in front of the bird hide

and a pair of Wigeon in the same place

As I walked away from Bowling Green Marsh, I spotted a Rove beetle on the muddy lane

I then went on the train to Starcross on the other side of the Exe estuary and walked down the lane past Powderham Castle

There was a large group of mainly female Fallow deer sitting on the grass inside the grounds of Powderham Castle.  They were easily viewed from the lane through the wire fence.

I think that they were disturbed by the sound of my clicking camera as they suddenly stood up

When I walked further down the lane, I could see the castle in the distance

Lovely large tree on the estate

A few stags were gathered together in the distance

More interesting trees

Little Egret standing near a pool in the Powderham grounds

Further on, I crossed over the railway bridge and saw two Oystercatchers on the Exe estuary at low tide

A train from Exmouth trundled along the railway line on the other side of the estuary

Sleepy Curlew standing on the river bed

Lympstone Village on the other side of the estuary

On my way back to Starcross, I took a photo of Powderham church

and was startled by a train traveling along the railway line between the estuary and the lane!

 

Birds and nature in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria - 5th November 2025

I decided to visit Grange-over-Sands on the second day of my short trip to Cumbria

There was a beautiful autumnal-looking Hornbeam in the area not far away from the railway station

I walked along the prom in the opposite direction to the town

I could not go far in that direction and so turned round and headed back to the town where a Little Egret was searching for snacks in the shallow water in front of the prom

Little Egret with Holme Island on the left and Arnside Knott in the distance

Beautiful multi-colour Hydrangea in the long flowerbed at the back of the prom

House Sparrow perching on a thin twig

Several Shelduck feeding in shallow water at low tide

Curlew walking across the wet sand

I went into Ornamental Gardens next to the railway station where a group of Bar-headed geese were feeding in the area round the War Memorial

Bar-headed goose feeding on the lush grass

A white Snow goose was with the Bar-headed flock

I have only ever seen Bar-headed geese in the UK with clipped wings as part of a Waterfowl Collection - these had obviously flown into the gardens as they showed off their huge complete wings!

The huge group of Bar-heads, plus one Snow goose, continued feeding round the War Memorial for some time against a background of Autumn-coloured trees and shrubs

 

Amongst the group was a Bar-headed goose with an almost completely white head

I was surprised to see a solitary American Wigeon on the lake - I believe that there used to be a Waterfowl Collection kept in the gardens in Victorian times, but there isn't one kept there now

Walk round RSPB Arne nature reserve - 10th July 2024

I had deliberately chosen to visit the Poole area of Dorset in July because there was a shuttle bus service running between Wareham railway station and Arne nature reserve on Wednesdays and Sundays - financed jointly between the RSPB and Wareham Council.  I do not drive, so this was the only way I could travel the four miles between Wareham and the reserve without spending money I don't have on taxi journeys.  As this was a Wednesday, I travelled by train from Hamworthy to Wareham and arrived in time to get the first shuttle bus to the reserve at 9.40.

I set off along one of the trails and came across a field where a group of pigs' backsides were facing me!

A large group of Curlews suddenly flew into the air while I was sitting in the Shipstal bird hide

I walked between a lot of tall trees in the woodland area

View of Brownsea Island from Arne

...and Furze Island

...and Round Island

I stopped for a snack on a bench at the edge of Arne and discovered four Little Egrets standing amongst mauve flowers

Further along the trail I came across a Comma butterfly

...and a Meadow Brown

It was good to see the new wall painting from the recent BBC Springwatch programmes, which is situated near the visitor centre

I then went for a walk along one of the other trails to Combe Heath where the ground was covered with purple heather and conifers.

Unfortunately, the only birds around were metal!  Helicopters flew regularly over the vast expanse of water in the Poole Harbour area and kept me awake at night when they landed in the Marine camp in Hamworthy, base of the SBS and next door to Rockley holiday park.  They were so loud - they sounded like explosions - and I wasn't staying in one of the homes right next door to the camp!

Navy helicopter flying above the Arne Peninsular

Two helicopters flying above the heathland

I left Arne on the 16.20 shuttle bus back to Wareham railway statiion (thank you RSPB and Wareham Council) and then travelled by train back to Hamworthy.  

Later in the evening there were pink clouds in the sky around a crescent-shaped moon