4th February 2010
Row, Row, Row your Boat
Star Trek V – The
Final Frontier
Woken by a Tawny Owl in the gardens of the youth hostel, I cycled down after breakfast, to the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Centre at Arundel and spent the day there. I was shown around by the fabulous Monica, whose enthusiasm and knowledge added to the visit. Sincere best wishes to her, her husband Paul and their little girl.
We walked around the whole reserve together with Kingfisher and Water Rail as bird highlights.
The WWT gave me a fleece for which I was extremely grateful. This was fabulous of them and great for me, provided warmth on a cool day. Leica had sent me one before I set off but this had been taken by someone when I stupidly took it off in a bird hide and left it on the seat. On realising that I had left it, I returned to the hide but the fleece was gone. Thanks Leica anyway.
Actually the weather was not as cool as it had been and this was the first day of the year that a fleece was all that one needed to stay warm. Spring was in the air!
Monica took a couple and I out on a boat ride to see Water Voles, with a pretend argument over who was in charge of the motor. I jokingly complained we should all be Green and row Roman galley-style!
We saw two Water Voles thanks to Monica’s skill and knowledge and lots of Water Vole toilet areas. Another lovely ‘sunshine’ girl, Monica was a delight all day and the profuse thanks I gave her at the end of the visit were sincere and deserved.
A Tawny Owl called unusually from the wooded ridge to the west at around midday and three more Kingfishers were seen from the comfortable chairs in the large reception area. I was allowed in to see the developing Peter Scott hide.
This unusual hide, the only one of its kind that I
know of in Britain, is going to be fabulous if the Sand Martins use the nesting
tubes that this hide was being built for. There will be a screened area where
people may peer into the tubes to watch the young being fed. Here is hoping the
returning Sand Martins, having migrated from their South African wintering
quarters, appreciate the efforts of the three friendly football-loving lads
building it all.
I love visiting WWT - Wildfowl & Wetland Trust Centres, always have done and exploring Arundel with its wilder areas, hides overlooking pools, reedbed and collection birds, all within such a relatively small area, was delightful. So much to see and insuch beautiful habitats.
On leaving the centre, I went into Arundel Cathedral for a quiet, reflective moment as darkness fell. After yesterday's fun in the dark, at least I knew the way back to the Youth Hostel and had another warm, extremely comfortable night in the lovely spacious hostel. More people were here this time and the conversation in the comfortable lounge went on late into the night.
6.12
miles 199
feet elevation up & down
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