We take the Chowder Ness round path, the longest one (about 2 miles), and stop at several hides. The best was the Target lake hide, where we watch Tufted ducks, a pair of swans and a Great Crested Grebe that approaches quite a bit. A Common Tern dives in to fish and flies over the hide. We heard a cuckoo as we arrive. There are lots of birds singing.
The new visitor centre was opened in 2007, and the top floor offers fantastic paroramic views of the reserve and the Humber Bridge. There are toilet facilities and a shop with nature books and toys. There are many hides, some overlooking the scrapes, which were dry today and one overlooking the Humber.
Entrance to the reserve and a leaflet with a map with several marked walks are free, but if you live north of the Humber you'll have to pay the bridge toll.
Overall, a very nice place for a walk and birdwatching, but maybe not to be taken on the hottest day of the year.
Pair of swans in Target Lake
Meadow near Ness End Farm
Humber Bridge and reedbeds
Ringlet on Creeping Thistle
A Four Banded Longhorn Beetle, Leptura quadrifasciata, photo by Calima, age 9
Location Map
Birds
- Great crested grebe
- Cormorant
- Mute swan, 2 pairs, one on the Humber and the other in Target lake
- Canada geese
- Tufted ducks
- Kestrel, hunting over the shore of the humber
- Coot with young
- Moorhen, heard
- Herring gulls
- Common tern fishing in Target lake
- Woodpigeon
- Collared dove
- Cuckoo calling, as soon as we start the walk
- Swifts in large groups
- Swallows
- House martin. Home.
- Blackbird, singing. A female sunbathing.
- Reed warbler
- Chiffchaff
- Blackcap
- Blue tit
- Magpie
- Crow
- Sparrow
- Goldfinch
- Bullfinch, in flight, gives an impression of a black bird with a white rump. Also a pair flying over our garden whistling e-up! e-up!
