WFV, St Aidans Nature Reserve, 17th September 2024

Visiting this excellent reserve (maybe Yorkshire’s finest?) has become an annual event for our group. We totalled seven; six of whom had travelled in the mini-bus and Sue who arrived there by car.

The sky was blue and not a cloud to be seen. A very gentle breeze ensured that the weather was utterly glorious all day long. For a change we began by doing the Lowther Loop which is a circuit of Lowther Lake. Unfortunately, none of the notice boards or waymarkers mentioned that, due to a broken bridge this is no longer a realistic option, We therefore had to retrace our steps. This did mean that we also got to do half of the Bower’s Bimble!   

Before our 12:30 lunch stop outside the Visitor Centre we had seen the Little Owl, a deer being chased by two dogs, Hairy Shieldbugs, Green-veined Whites, a very fresh Small Copper butterfly, Common Darters, Migrant & Brown Hawker dragonflies. Plants incl Weld, Mullein & Fleabane.   

After lunch we walked towards the Eastern Reedbed, turning left at the Prison Gates junction.  We had already spotted a party of Stonechats,a Kestrel, Buzzards, Red Kite & a Chiffchaff. Looking down into one of the sunny steep sided ditches we saw a worn Holly Blue & several Common Blue butterflies.

Our route then took us in the direction of Lemonroyd Lake with the Eastern RB on our right. It was here that we had a remarkable sighting of a very close Great White Egret, catching and eating a fish!. Sue managed to obtain several brilliant photographs of this activity. Very soon after that we identified a resting Ruff and a pair of feeding Spoonbills. We then turned right at the crossroads & made our way back between the Western & Eastern RB’s. Black-tailed Godwits, Great Crested Grebes, Little Egrets & Lapwings were also spotted.

Watching a Hobby hunting above the reedbeds was an added bonus. It will almost certainly have been mainly feeding on Migrant Hawkers & Common Darters as they were all over the site. We did not see any hirundines so they must have all departed for warmer? climes. Cetti’s Warblers were numerous but all remained hidden from view. Other butterflies = Speckled Woods, a Meadow Brown & Small Whites. No Red Admirals or Peacocks ?

After a further cafe stop, we left the site at 16:30 to arrive back in Bradford at 17:35. 

Lots of thanks to our driver Kevin. We wish him bon voyage and hope he returns intact from his Nepalese adventures!

John Gavaghan