Go for nature walks at weekends

Went over to Whisby for the day. Saw plenty of evidence of spring – blossom, catkins, great created grebes displaying, spring flowers… and much more.

Heard and then saw a bullfinch. Strange how this is quite exciting these days – in my childhood they were a real pest in our orchard.

Revisited Kirkby Moor today. All a bit soggy and gloomy, but a good outing despite that. Didn’t see many birds, but plenty of rabbits (and their droppings, which fascinated friend’s 4 yr old!). Took loads of photos – trying out my new macro facilities (as seen in the lichens here!).

It’s not the weekend, but is half term so I took the opportunity to take the children, my mum and aunt to Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve.

Rather a bleak cloudy day – nothing new there; Skegness is usually rather bracing. Unfortunately the tide was out so the birds were a bit distant for accurate identification, even with the help of binoculars. Curlews and oystercatchers were distinctive enough, though. I even managed to take a non-blurred pic of a gull!

Went to this reserve on the western side of Lincoln today for a warden led walk. Great location – plenty of variety of habitats. Saw several different waterbirds – including cormorants, oystercatchers, goldeneyes, tufted ducks, pochard, shoveler… and more. Not many fungi, but did find a few (see pic).

The weather this morning was wet and miserable so decided to go somewhere with shelter – and headed to Kirkby Gravel Pit, a Lincs Wildlife Trust reserve. On arrival the skies cleared, giving us a bright sunny afternoon.

Sat in the hide, looked at water birds and ate a rather good picnic.

Moved on to Kirkby Moor, walked for a while and tried out the hide there too (see pic).

This afternoon we headed into the Lincolnshire Wolds for a bit of geology. First stop was Red Hill, near Goulceby – famous for an exposure of red chalk.

Also went to an outcrop of green sandstone near Somersby.

Not exactly a nature walk, but took part in the RSPBBig Garden Birdwatch for an hour this morning.

This was today’s destination – along with Happibun and our children. The weather was a bit cold and showery initially, but then turned quite bright and mild.

Saw our first in-bloom snowdrops of the year, plenty of fallen trees (some newly downed; others looked like they’d been there a long time) and a variety of bracket fungi.

The children had a whale of a time clambering over fallen trees and exploring the ruins of the old RAF buildings that have been all but swallowed up by the wood.

Visited here today – complete with team member, Happibun, and a picnic lunch.

Beautiful clear blue skies and sunshine. Pottered around quite slowly – saw plenty of birds, a hare, some slightly unexpected fungi and some gorgeous mosses.

At the end of the afternoon we sat drinking tea from our flasks and watched great spotted woodpeckers coming and going.

To round off a great day, we saw a barn owl perched by the side of the road as we drove home.

...but would like to make it a weekly habit. Or as close to weekly as other commitments permit.