AFON
Advent Calendar: Spurn by Lizzie Bruce.
Welcome to our AFON Advent Calendar! Each day leading up to Christmas you will find a wonderful new post by a different member. This years theme is your favourite nature reserve; where do you go to escape from the world and connect with nature? Enjoy!
Raindrops bounced on the road. Daylight long gone. The car headlights were the only lights I had guiding me to my final destination. A check on Birdguides earlier revealed 2 white spotted bluethroats. Oh how I wished they would still be there in morning. Although I could barely call myself a birder at this point, I knew these were birds I wanted to see. Doesn’t everyone?
© Lizzie Bruce
I eventually arrive. It was so dark. This made looking for a building with a red roof somewhat difficult. But I headed for the single light shining through a window. Made it. My home for the summer.
After a good night sleep, I hoped at least one bluethroat would still be lingering. No sign. A phrase that will become all too familiar. Gutting. Nevermind. Always tomorrow. It was time to start getting my bearings.
That summer I started to become a birder. A naive birdwatcher, unaware of why Spurn was so special. But over the next coming days and months, Spurn revealed her secrets.
© Lizzie Bruce
As the Spring days roll on the last of the winter visitors return to their breeding grounds whilst those who ventured to the warmth’s of Africa for their winter are trickling back. With our commoner more familiar birds comes rarities; the birds that make people come. Sitting at the ponds, observing the Little Terns, Bee- eaters are called out over the radio coming my way. Then, there they are, right above my heads. Little rainbows with their delicate call. All too briefly they are gone. The colourful bird theme continues, with Golden Orioles and a Roller. With this in my mind I decide to try searching for my own find. There, hunkered down on a windswept hawthorn. What is it? Looks a bit like a Shrike. Not very familiar with these birds I do a quick Google search. Female red backed Shrike. Get In. My first red backed shrike. My first find. I put it out on the radio; before I knew it people were coming in all directions. A real buzz. I can’t wait to see what else is in store.