Valentine Day courting: Arlington Reservoir in February - RSPB Eastbourne and District Group Walk

Valentine Day courting Great Crested Grebes

placeholder image — Valentine Day courting Great Crested Grebes

This was a first for us – the Wednesday walk on a Saturday – due to a bad weather forecast for the original date. A very chilly start to the day but the sun was making a very rare and welcome appearance. We set off by passing through the wood behind the car park and onto the track that led to the lakeside farmhouse. We passed by a small field that was alive with redwings – starlings, song thrushes, crows, jackdaws, magpies and house sparrows were also around. A remarkably friendly robin kept us company for a while as we headed towards the farmhouse.

The early part of the walk then deteriorated as the path around the farmhouse was a quagmire after the recent periods of heavy rain. We all managed to safely find our way out onto the reservoir dam to be struck by a viciously cold wind blowing across the water. Most of the bird life, as usual, was far away across the water, but with the help of a scope we were eventually able to identify the following: great black-backed gulls, herring gulls, lesser black backed-gulls and a small flock of shoveler ducks. We paused for a while in the hide and enjoyed stunning views of a pair of great crested grebes commencing their courtship display – very touching and so appropriate for St. Valentine’s Day!! …. and it remained sunny and dry all day.

Words by Tony Vass and photos by Simon Thomas & Tony Vass.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds RSPB is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076

Our next walks:

Sat 21 March at 10.00 am - Friston Forest. A woodland walk on the first day of spring. Meet in Butchershole carpark, Jevington Road, Friston. Car park charge by RingGo app £2.50 for 2 hrs and £3.50 for 4 hrs. Map Ref TQ 554994. What3words: ///dwarves.rejoiced.fewer
Sat 18 April earlier start time 9.00 am - Old Lodge Ashdown Forest. Looking out for heathland wildlife. Meet in Old Lodge car park, High Road. Map Ref TQ 469306. What3words: ///cherubs.crossings.maker or Shadows car park just 100m up from here: ///poetic.escalated.corn N.B. Car park charges £4 for 4hrs payable by RingGo app or phone. No card or cash payment except at Visitor Centre.

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