Sitting in the Iron Trunk hide today I was shocked by the amount of noise that an area, which at first looks very peaceful and tranquil, like the Floodplain Forest Nature reserve actually has. Now I must admit to being quite noise sensitive, but the sounds of modern life were all around me.
Dramatic view over the floodplain forest nature reserve
Noise
Noises from the dull, monotonous rumble of the A5, one of the Trunk roads through the country, carrying commuters heading towards their daily grind and large trucks carrying tonnes of commercial goods, things none of us need but we have all been convinced we want by advertisers, to the distant digger tearing up the ground and disturbing millions of microbes and "less important" life, the sign of progress and growth.
The musical sound of a food truck announcing its presence at the nearby offices, to the woosh of a high speed train as it rattles across the Victorian viaduct, whisking passengers to destinations unknown. Dogs barking uncontrollably at unseen threats, and the loud roar of jet engines as commercial airliners pass overhead, moving people around the globe to chase the sun.
Nature
All these sounds of humans going about their daily lives, didn't manage to drown out the nature of the day though, I was glad I could still pick out the sounds of the twittering Goldfinch flocks, which are building in numbers, safety in large flocks through winter. Wheeting and singing Chiffchaffs could be heard all around the patch and the regular winter sounds of Wigeon, whistling calls to each other has started to fill the air.
While there is a little extra water in the pools since I last visited, the waders haven't followed, there are similar numbers of both Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, the cryptically plumaged Common Snipe continue to feed along the edges, but a few also flew about. There was no sign of the great white egret, and I also felt Little Egret numbers were down.
Green Sandpiper
By far the smartest bird of the day was a Peregrine Falcon that flew straight at me as I sat in the Viaduct hide, having swept in across the river Ouse, so shocked was I, I forgot to use my camera (typical), the bird flew up and circled the large incinerator chimney before heading back off the direction it had come in.
Kestrels have always been one of my favorite birds, I think it has a lot to do with the old YOC (Young Ornithologists Club), the old junior side of the RSPB, and the awesome metal badge (of a Kestrel) that they used to give out (I wish I still had my old one). Today on the patch there were two, hovering at either end of the main pits, but my final sighting of the day (again missed it on camera) was as the pair of birds clashed in mid air, all talons and screeching, it was a truly amazing sight to behold.
Hovering Kestrel
Kestrel in Flight
Kestrel About to Stoop
After all the excitement of the Kestrels I headed back home, my thoughts of the noises behind me, my heart filled with the joys of nature.
Other Photos
Local Sheep
Mute Swan
Wood Pigeon on a post
Rook Silhouette
Pied Wagtail
Another Mute Swan
Great Spotted Woodpecker
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