A photographer friend recently pointed out to me that his favourite photographic saying is “no one remembers the days they stayed in bed”, of course he was referring to the beautiful golden sunlight that occurs at the beginning of the day, but there is so much more to an early start than the sunlight as I found out when I joined Charley Miller on the second of her STC seed fund supported “Secret Wildlife of Salisbury” events around St Mark’s Open Space and the Castle Hill Country Park. These events are run by Hazel Hill Trust in partnership with Wildlife and Wellbeing.
Having met up with everyone slightly later in the walk, I was amazed at how many birds they had already encountered and remembered. From blue tits, great tits and long-tailed tits to black caps and nuthatches it was fantastic to hear everyone recount enthusiastically the birds they had already met with, and soon it would be my turn as Charley pointed out a whole host of long-tailed tits chirping to each other, along with a baby blackcap sitting quietly in the hedgerow, both something that I would have missed entirely.
Walking on to the Country Park, we were able to hear the distinctive call of the chiffcaff and watch linnets calling and flying over us. Priding myself a little in my bird knowledge, I was amazed to find out from Charley that the linnets are members of the finch family. It just goes to show that you can learn something new and a testament to Charley’s knowledge.
As we walked, we encountered more, including the sound of the skylark high in the sky and a whole host of butterflies. From gatekeepers to skippers and meadow browns, Castle Hill was truly alive with wildlife, and they made a wonderful accompaniment for our breakfast pitstop of muffins, cinnamon buns and tea and coffee. By now, everyone was chatting amongst themselves and new friends made.
Stomachs full, we were off again. This time, we saw magpies and pigeons and enjoyed the lovely wildflowers growing profusely among the grasses, giving Castle Hill a slightly Alpine feel.
But all things come to an end and we soon found ourselves heading out of the Country Park and back to the starting point. But we hadn’t finished discovering more birds as we heard the call of a wren along the way. I often confuse the sound of robins and wrens, but Charley had a “surefire” way of telling them apart. If you want to know what it is, you will have to join Charley on her next birdsong and breakfast walk, or if birdsong is not for you, then she has other events planned (see links for further details).
The Secret Wildlife of Salisbury events were voted in second place for seed funding at STC's People in the Park 2024 and STC are really glad to be supporting this brilliant initiative.
Bat Night Adventure along the River Avon 28 Jun
Birdsong and Breakfast St Mark’s and Castle Hill 13 Jul
Moth Morning and Breakfast the Secret Garden, Bourne Hill 1 Aug
Wildlife Discovery Picnic Queen Elizabeth Gardens 13 Aug
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