NORTH COVE NATURE RESERVE

   I popped along to North cove nature reserve for a couple of hours on Tuesday and as usual I never saw another person while I was there. This is a fantastic little reserve covering a fairly small area consisting of alder carr and wetland meadow that is entirely maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers. There are several small hides on the reserve enabling good viewing of various species depending on the seasons. In the spring and summer the meadow is full of flower and supports a wide range of insect life which I will try to photograph and include in later blogs. In the winter this is an excellent place to watch and photograph the more common woodland species but there is usually also a good chance of seeing Siskins and Lesser redpolls as well as Bullfinches.

Great tit

Blue tit

  On Tuesday I made my way round to the woodland hide complete with its feeders which had been topped up by the volunteer work party that had been there in the morning. Behind the hide was a dead female Bullfinch found by the work party that was completely unmarked so was unlikely to be the result of a Sparrowhawk attack from the resident pair in the woods. Settling down in the hide I could immediately observe Blue tits and Great tits on the feeders and in the surrounding trees resplendent in their spring plumage. Some 20 or so so Chaffinches were in the area feeding mainly on the ground but I could not spot a Brambling which sometimes make winter appearances here. Several Marsh tits kept returning to the feeders including one that had pure white tail feathers which made it very distinctive but there was a lack of Coal tits with only 1 observed in the time I was there.


Chaffinch
 

  A small group of Long tailed tits appeared which are always a delight to see flitting amongst the trees and bushes looking for insects and calling to each other with a high pitched 'see, see, see' voice.  The sun appeared with them rapidly followed by a Treecreeper which looked great in the light.

  Two Muncjak deer emerged from the undergrowth and approached as I sat quietly and took a few pictures, one adult and a juvenile. They are regularly seen here and if you remain quiet  you stand a good chance of some close views.

  Finally a small flock of Siskin appeared feeding in the trees but unfortunately I could not see any Lesser redpoll which often accompany them in the winter. Along with Robins, Dunnock, Wren and a passing Sparrowhawk not a bad result for peaceful and relaxing couple of hours; definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.