Woolston Eyes 8th May 2023
Having learnt about the opening of the new bed 4 loop at Woolston Eyes on our recent visit there when we did not have time to do that as well as the main site, we decided to return a few days later to check it out.
As it happens we didn’t really see that much but it was interesting to see what it was all about. It is possible that this would be a good site in winter but the ground is a bit up and down and probably rather boggy in winter. We had a map of the site which seems to indicate that it is a one way, clockwise route to the loop hide and then the platform, but, in fact, we took what seemed the obvious route (marked in blue) so that we arrived at the platform first.
On one side of the platform there is an open body of water and this attracted a few ducks. In the other direction there is a more marshy, reddy mix of land and water making a series of scrapes. There was suppposed to be a Wood Sandpiper there but it seems it was a long way away and not showing very often. We walked on until we reached the turning for the loop hide (not at all obvious) and there was somw quite boggy sections fo the path. This led to a metal hide (no seats) that overlooked some water. I think that this could also be better in winter and there wasn’t much to see. We could have continued all the way around taking the path marked in red on the map but we didn’t know how long that would take us, or whether we would get most of the around before finding an impassable bit of path and possibly having to turn back again, so we returned the way we came. We walked just over a mile there and then the same back and we spent two hours there. It was interesting but I think there is some maturing of the environment needed and possibly somw work on the tracks before it becomes as great a site as the main site.
Bird Sightings : Woolston Eyes 8th May 2023
| Species | No |
|---|---|
| Black-headed Gull | 8 |
| Blackbird | 2 |
| Blackcap | 3 |
| Canada Goose | 10 |
| Carrion Crow | 2 |
| Chiffchaff | 2 |
| Coot | 6 |
| Gadwall | 14 |
| Great Crested Grebe | 2 |
| Lapwing | 1 |
| Little Grebe | 1 |
| Magpie | 2 |
| Mallard | 6 |
| Mute Swan | 2 |
| Pied Wagtail | 2 |
| Pochard | 6 |
| Reed Bunting | 1 |
| Robin | 2 |
| Shelduck | 2 |
| Shoveler | 4 |
| Swallow | 1 |
| Tufted Duck | 4 |
| Whitethroat | 2 |
| Woodpigeon | 2 |