By Martin Garwood
Martin has been taken with birds from an early age and has traveled extensively in pursuit of various species. He has a specific ardour for Swifts. He just lately arrange a charity, Excessive Weald Swifts, to advertise conservation within the UK of this now “red-listed” species. Martin spent his working life in major schooling, was previously a trustee of Kent Wildlife Belief, and as a eager wildlife photographer, accomplished a Masters’s diploma in images in 2015. He lives in Southeast England, writes articles about wildlife for native journals, displays his images, and offers talks. He’s hardly ever seen and not using a digicam and binoculars round his neck.
It actually didn’t appear such a wise thought. The wind was already fairly sturdy and gathering velocity, and rain was threatening. The climate forecaster had warned that one other storm was approaching; a storm known as Ciaran (all our extra severe storms have names today) and that the climate would solely get wilder. However then once more, it appeared such a disgrace to be driving previous a extremely glorious chook reserve on my approach house from working close by, and never paying it a go to, nevertheless temporary.
I used to be within the South-east of England, within the County of Kent about 40 miles from London and close to Elmley Nature Reserve, over 3000 acres of fastidiously managed farmland, marsh, and reed-bed beside the River Swale. Within the Spring, the reserve is alive with nesting Redshanks, Skylarks, and displaying Lapwings, whereas Marsh Harriers cruise the reed beds searching for meals for his or her younger, and Brown Hares elevate their younger protected from males with canine. It’s a very uncommon place for nature on this crowded and extremely developed a part of England and far revered for its conservation work. Cautious to keep away from disturbing its treasured wildlife the managers require guests to remain of their automobiles as they drive alongside the 3-mile entrance observe. Statement is strictly from inside a automobile, safari model, till you attain the principle automobile park and begin exploring the remainder of this spacious website on foot. It’s a windy place at the perfect of instances. The terrain is flat and treeless, uncovered to all that the climate can throw at it.
A Marsh Harrier looking over Elmley Nature Reserve earlier than the storm
The wind was build up as I began my sluggish drive alongside the observe, pausing each few yards to scan for birds. A number of Marsh Harriers have been braving the breeze and a pair of or 3 Kestrels have been nearly managing to take care of their hovering, heads fastened in place as their wings made fixed small, compensatory changes. A Quick-eared Owl, a winter go to from Europe, appeared briefly looking low over a distant ditch and two Cattle Egrets, very latest colonizers of the UK, flew in to forage between the toes of a bunch of cows.
Cattle Egrets, as soon as very uncommon guests at the moment are a well-known sight at Elmley
Inside minutes of having fun with these birds, the rain started, and needing to shut my driver-side window my observations needed to be reduce brief. This was not simply any rain however the sort that sweeps throughout a panorama almost horizontally, driving all in its path, birds and males, to take shelter. I had little possibility however to proceed my sluggish drive, hoping circumstances may enhance and that the downpour wouldn’t power me to shut the passenger aspect window, now on the extra sheltered aspect of the automobile. Passing near a metallic gate, my eye caught sight of a chook tucked in tight towards one of many gate’s picket posts. It was a male Kestrel. The chook had discovered a small refuge, a patch of calm, away from the now-lashing wind and rain. So intent on holding out of the storm in a panorama largely with out shelter, it appeared to take little discover of me or the automobile as I paused to get pleasure from a detailed view.
The Kestrel, slightly moist, however out of the worst of the storm; a much-loved raptor within the UK
Frequent throughout the UK, I’ve seen many Kestrels over my birding lifetime however it was a uncommon deal with certainly to see this wild raptor so shut and revel in it for a number of moments earlier than a automobile pulled up behind me and obliged me to maneuver on. It was a kind of uncommon, treasured, and memorable encounters with nature. In lots of respects, the storm had made it potential. Nevertheless, I couldn’t assist however marvel later about how rapidly wildlife will be capable to adapt as local weather change drives our climate additional into wilder and wilder types. Maybe, just like the Kestrel, it can discover a approach, in some way.
A Brown Hare drying out within the solar after the worst of the storm has handed