Previous Page  15 / 28 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 15 / 28 Next Page
Page Background

15

Buckden Roundabout

September 2017

Wetland wonders

The River Ouse to the east of the village is a brilliant place to walk along through the year. Summer brings abundant dragonflies

and damselflies, including our local speciality, the Scarce Chaser. Even winter brings great wildlife watching though as this entry

from my diary shows.

From the diary - 26th February

I’d abandoned a trip further afield and decided on a walk along the river instead with nothing in particular in mind to look for,

other than to enjoy the walk. As I passed the huge fallen Crack Willow, a spluttering snort came from below me. Looking down, I

stared into a whiskery face with a pair of dewy eyes – my first local Otter. It was hard to suppress the heart-pumping excitement

and I worried I might spook it by getting over excited. Fortunately, it wasn’t worried by me gawking at it and swam along a bit

further, scurried up the bank to emerge on the path behind me, giving an unforgettable view as it stared at me again before con-

tinuing on to one of the gravel pits for more fishing.

Marvellous migrants

During migration times in spring and autumn, around 100 different species of birds pass through the Buckden area, stopping off

to feed and “refuel” on their long journeys.

Grafham Water is a brilliant place for birdwatching, espe-

cially in spring and autumn when it acts a “magnet” for

birds migrating along the River Ouse Valley - north in spring

as they head to northern Europe and the Arctic to breed

and south in autumn as they head for Africa. The world’s

longest distance migrant, the Arctic Tern, is a regular visitor

to the reservoir in late April and early May when flocks of

these graceful birds stop to feed on their migration that can

see them cover 50,000 miles in a year from pole to pole.

Scarce species regularly drop in at these times, as another

diary entry shows:

From the diary - 15th September

Laura and I went blackberrying around the lagoons at

Grafham Water today. The hedgerows are a reliable spot for

a good crop of juicy berries and it is a handy circular route of

a mile or so. It was no use pretending that I didn’t know two

juvenile Spoonbills had arrived there - the main reason for

the visit. After filling our baskets, we enjoyed the sight of

two of these unusually active individuals sweeping their

spectacular spatula bills through the shallow waters of one

of the pools at point blank range. We came home with a

good few bags of blackberries too, so everyone was happy.

Discover the wildlife on your doorstep

Watching the wildlife that lives alongside me provides a

rollercoaster ride of emotions every day of the year. I laugh

when the beady-eyed Starlings squabble over the fat balls

in my garden and the Badger cubs topple over when they

sneeze too hard. I worry if the Blue Tits are bringing enough

caterpillars to their chicks in the nestbox and if the Swal-

lows will return safely from Africa. And I am full of envy

when somebody sees something in my patch that I haven’t!

Get to know the birds, animals, butterflies and bees that live on your doorstep and I guarantee you’ll become hooked – just like

me.

Get the book

Wildlife on Your Doorstep

is published by Reed New Holland and is available from all good booksellers, in store and online.

Simply Google “Wildlife on Your Doorstep, Mark Ward”. The book is 180 pages long and full colour throughout with more than

150 photographs, many taken in Buckden and the local area. It is packed with advice and tips on attracting wildlife to your gar-

den and what you can see through the year, as well as extracts from Mark’s diaries. Mark also has copies available that he

would be happy to put a personal message in. He is also happy to answer any questions you have about wildlife, attracting wild-

life to your garden and where to go locally by dropping him an email at

goldenbins@hotmail.co.uk

or calling 07974 432 460.

Wildlife on your Doorstep

Privet Hawk Moths on the wall