Friends Of Far Ings National Nature Reserve

21/04/2025

08/03/2025

Chiffchaffs singing here and there and insects are up. Saw a reed bunting fly out from a high perch to catch an insect in mid air and return to its perch. Hoping for a sand martin.

08/03/2025

My first booming bittern this morning. Also my first butterflies (saw two, think one was a comma and the other was a peacock). Stunning day.

23/02/2025

From the wonder of the seasons and the brain swimming event that is bird migration, let us consider the brutal experience of the resident birds that remain here through the winter.

I have forever been in awe of those hardy species that share our most desolate season. We celebrate the autumnal change and merry Christmases with our warm homes and embracing woollen clothes. Those hardy species remain in faith of fruitful hunting.

One memory hasn’t left me and I often become wondrous and very respectful of our natural neighbours. One exceptionally cold February day a few years ago in Watersedge CP I came across a goldcrest. It searched ivy and the bare bones of Hawthorne and found morsels so small that I couldn’t see them. Large eyes and agile it went about its mission to eat enough to survive the day, survive the night.

That evening was well below zero degrees. I lay in my warm bed thinking about this goldcrest hunkered down somewhere on this very long winter’s night.

Last night I watched the movie The Revenant. A group of men out in an exceptionally cold landscape. The suffering to survive was shuddering for the viewer.

I thought about the goldcrest.

22/02/2025

A sand Martin yesterday has lifted the spirit after we’ve endured a Baltic winter. The mild air has warmed our hearts and with a warmed heart I melted when the male stonechat perched on the finest tip of a racing green sedge. Lit up by sunshine I stopped and stared. The sound of meadow pipits above reached my ears but I was fixed on this male stonechat. A female stonechat was also nearby and they were pouncing on ground critters. I could feel the seasonal change and no matter how hard I tried I did think I would hear a chiffchaff and blackcap but didn’t. Intoxicated by joy and contemplation I left for home.

02/01/2025

Happy New Year. Here we are looking forward to longer days. Any time now the song thrush will send its song across the land. Not heard one yet but seen many around the reserve. They’ll soon be fighting for territory and is that song the most beautiful territorial weapon you’ll ever hear?

29/10/2024

Wandering down to the haven and a bin bag cormorant passed by. looking like it had only just learnt to fly but perfectly dressed for Halloween.