On the first day of September, and with the aim of photographing curlews to supplement a magazine article I had just written, I made for the Tarka Trail at Pottington. And, as expected, by looking through the lens of the camera, through my binocular and with the naked eye, an interesting hour or so was enjoyed here.
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| • A curlew feeding at the water's edge. |
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| • A curlew moments after taking flight. |
Several wildflower species were registered still flowering. One of these was a single plant of the tall Lactuca serriola the prickly lettuce, with its slender stalked (yellow) flower-spikes. It is also known as the compass plant for, in full sunlight, the leaves are oriented north/south.
On the shingle between mudflat and seawall mat-forming oyster plants were still showing their bluish flowers.
Sitting with my back against the seawall with a patch of shingle ahead, I watched a small party of swallows circling ever lower above me. Presently these landed on the shingle to collect the smallest gritstones, then away again with cheery twitters. In my stillness - the secret of all living creatures is quiet - a rabbit came lolloping along and, within inches, passed me by before sensing my presence and accelerating away!
However, the real purpose of my visit this day could not escape my attention, for all around the exposed mudflats came the intermittent, wonderful calls of curlews. Fifty and more of them. And, for a final touch, black-tailed godwits.
Contact Stewart Beer at: stewart.naturalist@btinternet.com
• Stewart’s anthology An Exaltation of Skylarks, now with four colour plates added, is published by SMH Books ISBN 978-0-9512619-7-2. It can be ordered from all good bookshops, or directly from www.smh-books.co.uk