I'd not been to Minsmere the RSPB reserve on the coast here for a very long time. It's completely changed with new visitor centre, cafe and shop.
Unfortunately it wasn't a good day for spotting birds - for me anyway- I'm sure others did better. The dry weather had dried up the 'scrape' which is the usually huge area of shallow water over mud that wading birds enjoy. The reeds are so tall that I couldn't see over them from one of the hides and the morning sun reflecting on the water didn't help and I just didn't have the energy for walking too far for some reason.
Even walking through the woodland it was really quiet , the only birds I heard were a robin and a wren and elsewhere I only saw a moorhen, mallard ducks, magpies and crows and one solitary goose.
Oh well.
A few photos.
That's Sizewell Power Station in the Distance. The distant sound of pile-driving for the new Sizewell C could be heard from Minsmere and from the my holiday lodge site. Luckily only in daytime!
The dry weather this summer hasn't helped the waders and other birds that usually breed in this country.
How tastes change, having a dead bird on your hat or clothes looks repulsive now, thank goodness!
ReplyDeletePenny
Can't imagine a hat full of dead budgies!
DeleteWell done to the RSPB for all they have done for the birds in this country. The desire to be fashionable has done so much damage to our planet and its creatures over the years.
ReplyDeleteI would have liked to have seen more birds when I was there. Son said it's the wrong time of year!
DeleteI am a member of the RSPB and understand the thinking behind the display, but I bet more than one child has woken up yelling in the middle of the night after seeing it. Confronting people who love birds and want to protect them with pictures of dead birds while they try to enjoy a slice of cake seems an odd thing to do in an age where trigger warnings are slapped on everything.
ReplyDeleteI picked out the worst of the row of photos - the others weren't so bad.
DeleteIts a shocking photo to shock people into realising the wretched killing of birds and animals for fashion is just not on. You have such a different landscape, flat for miles and often waterlogged in your photos here and yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThe water at Minsmere is intentional - there should be a lot more than what's there at the moment.
DeleteWow-those photos really are disturbing! Thanks for sharing another of your visits-I love to see where people visit and take a note for future visits if we get down that way. Catriona
ReplyDeleteLots to see in Suffolk! That was the last of my holiday days out
DeleteI didn't know that dead birds were used as decoration. I thought it was only the feathers. How grotesque.
ReplyDeleteA bit like furs with the foxes head still attached!
DeleteWhile I agree completely with their work, I would never actively support this organisation, having witnessed firsthand a blatant and wholly irresponsible use of donations used to fund a "jolly" for eight or nine directors/board members upon the purchase of a valuable asset by way of a future reserve. The board members were flown in by helicopter to a local 5* hotel where they were wined and dined for three days and four nights while being chauffeured around in a fleet of Range Rovers and Land Rovers. All paid for out of public donations, at around £2,000 per head. That was about 20 years ago when 2k went a lot further than it does today.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, that was a misuse of donations. Hope this doesn't still happen.
DeleteThank goodness sometimes fashion trends change for the better......
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned above, some charities are not always responsible with donations.
The photos are nice, TQ
Alison in Devon x
Thank goodness feathers and furs are no longer used
DeleteLooks like a nice day for a walk. I have very little talent for identifying birds. I still enjoy seeing and hearing them, though! :)
ReplyDeleteI was lucky with 4 days of fine weather although it was a bit chilly at Minsmere and out on the pier
DeleteWe had many happy hours at Minsmere and were members for ages. We left when they weren't interested in campaigning for restrictions on cats. Too worried they will lose income from cat owners. The Wildlife trusts are just as bad. Most 'reserves' have turned into dog exercise areas.
ReplyDeleteWe went a few times when we first lived at Knodishall but then we got busy and the children grew out of wanting to go so I'd not been for ages.
DeleteOh gosh, it would be unimaginable these days to walk around with a trio of dead birds on your hat wouldn't it. They have done a good thing to highlight the steps forward for bird protection, hopefully it will make people think of other parts of animals that are still used for various things.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad feathers and furs are in the past.
DeleteI didn't know the origin of the RSPB. Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! They own a huge amount of land now - a very wealthy charity - like the NT and Wildlife trusts.
DeleteWearing dead animals has always weirded me out, so I'm glad to see they were able to put a stop to that. Even though you didn't see too many birds on your walk, your photos are beautiful! It looks like it was a great day regardless! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI just wish that the RSPB would actually live up to their name and call out the wanton mass destruction of birds by the useless windmills so beloved of Mad Ed Miliband.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely walk. Walking paths among the trees and then into open land is always enjoyable. Protected open spaces with a water source in most times attracts wildlife and birds. I am surprised you did not see more wildlife.
ReplyDeleteA feather on a hat seems common, entire birds on a hat is new and quite surprising to me.
Is it a lovely place to walk with lots of trails? I've wanted to go there but sister and I usually walk places where there are paths and whatnot so wasn't sure that would be somewhere she'd like to go. I've heard it can be a lovely place for bird watching.
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