Variety is the Spice of Life

Many nature reserves now have some sort of bird feeding station. Often these are situated near to the main entrance, car park or visitor centre and provide close up views of more common garden birds, great especially for children, the elderly and photographers.

One of my favourite reserves is Potteric Carr Yorkshire Wildlife Trust near Doncaster. There are bird feeders just outside the entrance and exit door that often attract a good variety of common tits and finches, however, a short walk round to the main feeding station in front of Willow Pool Hide and ajacent to the warm and welcoming cafe will prove much more productive. The hide overlooks the reed fringed water body and the row of small trees and bushes to the side of the hide provide safety for birds from which they launch their visits to the many feeders. What is so good about this location though is the variety of birds that can be seen there offering outstanding views and photo opportunities.

The reserve itself as well as the feeding station are best visited early morning or before dusk in the winter months. In an hour or so you'd be unlucky not to see Blue, Great, Coal, Willow and Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Reed Bunting, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Water Rail - that's 30 species. From the hide you could easily also see Lesser Redpoll, Fieldfare, Redwing, Brambling, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Jackdaw, Grey Heron, Widgeon, Teal, Green Woodpecker, Starling, Cormorant and Bittern - that's another 20 species. I have also seen Peregrine, Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Shoveler, Goldcrest, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Rook, Pink-footed Goose, Common (Mealy) Redpoll, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Treecreeper on more than one occasion from this location in winter - that's 12 more. In summer you can see Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin, House Martin, Hobby and Black-necked Grebe.

The variety of birds that can be seen from one location here is truely remarkable, and coupled with the close up views achievable, make it a really special place. Spend enough time here, as I have, and you could also witness one of those spectacular wildlife moments. In the few years I've been going there I have seen a Kingfisher on the bird table, a Sparrowhawk take a Great Tit, Black-necked Grebes in a courtship display and a Bittern take a Brown Rat!
Here are some shots from my most recent visit to my favourite feeding station.

Water Rail

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Chaffinch

Reed Bunting

Coal Tit

Willow Tit

Grey Squirrel