High summer in Far Ings

The hottest day of the year, we head for Far Ings National Nature Reserve. The origin of the nature reserve are clay pits on the south shore of the Humber, which were abandoned in the 1950s and naturally filled with water forming freshwater lakes and reedbeds. They started to attract a diversity of flora and fauna. The site has been managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust since the 1980s. With appropriate reed management, they now sustain a booming Bittern population (sorry for the pun!) and you can see several marshland and reed specialist species (Bearded Tits, Sedge, Grasshopper and Reed Warblers, in addition to many waders that come to feed on the Humber mudflats and the several scrapes in the reserve. Over 50 bird species breed on the reserve. In addition to the reedbeds and mudflats, there are meadows and some patches of scrub. We spot the first Ringlets of the year and also Small Tortoiseshells, Meadow Browns and many Green Veined While butterflies, a pair mating, with the female flying dragging the male behind.
 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

Official Website

Location Map

View Larger Map

Birds

1. Great crested grebe
2. Cormorant
3. Mute swan, 2 pairs, one on the Humber and the other in Target lake
4. Canada geese
5. Tufted ducks
6. Kestrel, hunting over the shore of the humber
7. Coot with young
8. Moorhen, heard
9. Herring gulls
10. Common tern fishing in Target lake
11. Woodpigeon
12. Collared dove
13. Cuckoo calling, as soon as we start the walk
14. Swifts in large groups
15. Swallows
16. House martin. Home.
17. Blackbird, singing. A female sunbathing.
18. Reed warbler
19. Chiffchaff
20. Blackcap
21. Blue tit
22. Magpie
23. Crow
24. Sparrow
25. Goldfinch
26. 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!