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Waterside Natural History Society visit to Hengistbury Head

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This is the time of year when migrating birds return to our shores and wild flowers, that we have forgotten the name of, appear through the greening vegetation.

 

We were not disappointed in selecting Hengistbury Head for our introduction to either the birds or flowers.

 

The start of our walk was from Riversdale road in Tuckton on the west side of the river Stour and the river was where we first headed.

The river Stour at this point has been confined between strengthened banks so it looks like a river with parallel banks but it is near enough to the sea to be tidal.

 

It was high tide when we arrived and the water lapped only a foot or so below the edge of the banks so the cool fresh smell of the water was a welcome sight in the warm sunshine.

 

The Sunday before Easter and the glorious weather had brought many families out to relax on the river.

 

Boats of every kind bustled up and down and across the water.

 

We could have spent all day just watching the activity but eventually we continued our walk away from the houses and parks into the countryside towards Hengistbury head.

The low lying land in this area is frequently waterlogged and the willow trees, both Goats willow with its long shiny leaves and Sallow with round dull grey leaves, grow in profusion along the banks of the dykes.

 

We also came across Ash trees whose buds were bursting into leaf.

 

The old saying ‘ash before oak we are in for a soak’ indicates that May will be a wet month but this probably relies more on hope than science.

 

Everything is happening at a rapid pace in the natural world at this time of year and especially so with the warm dry spell we have had recently.

We were fortunate to see and hear several of the spring migrating birds.

 

Common Terns were flying over the river, Swallows and Sand Martins were flying over the reeds, Blackcap and Whitethroat were singing in the willow trees.

 

Chiffchaffs were heard frequently near the tops of trees and we even heard a Chetti’s Warbler.

 

Whitethroats seem to be particularly common this year.

Several butterflies crossed our path including Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Comma, Small White, Orange Tip and Brimstone but the sighting of two Clouded Yellow butterflies was an unusual and welcome sight.

 

Bluebells were in flower during our walk as was the white flimsy flowers of Stitchwort.

 

Garlic Mustard clothed the bottom of hedgerows and Red Campion was just coming into flower.

 

A patch of Summer Snowflake that may have escaped from local gardens provided an interest from the usual wild flowers.

Our walk took us around the bay before climbing up to the top of Hengistbury head and we frequently came close to the shore.

 

Where the water was not too saline reed beds hid our view of the water but Reed Bunting and Sedge Warblers could be seen singing from the tops of the reeds.

 

Nearer the sea Dunlin in their summer plumage, Turnstones and Ringed Plovers looked for food on the mud exposed by the low tide.

Spectacular views of the estuary on one side and the Isle of Wight from the seaward side rewarded us for the brief but steep climb to the top of Hengistbury head.

 

The low tide in the estuary meant that people could walk far from the shore and looked as if they walked on water from our vantage point some distance away.

 

The view of the Isle of Wight was also quite unusual with the combination of cold sea mist and afternoon sunshine.

 

An Adder was seen warming itself by the side of the path as we set off across the small area of heather on the top of the hill and Linnets were seen gathering on the low shrubbery.

 

Although not a long walk we had spent some time watching wildlife and scenery so we were glad to concentrate on walking for our return journey.

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