There is something about this time of year that I feel the need to fill every hour of the weekend. If I’m not cutting out fabric, I’m flying through my list of seeds to get in the ground before it’s too late. I think it’s the increase of energy due to the longer days and the gentle warmth.
Last weekend was no different. The rest of the family were similarly occupied. My husband was putting finishing touches to my new potting shed. There were also parties to attend. Not by me, which was probably a good job.
By Sunday afternoon, we all needed to go for a walk. We headed down to Grey Lake nature reserve down on the Somerset Levels. It is an old favourite. The children love to run through the willow snake. This year, it was more difficult for some of them. Not so easy as you grow taller.
We spotted all sorts of birds. There were reed buntings, herons, chaffinches, a family of coots and a marsh harrier, being mobbed my the crows. Also spotted a dragonfly among the damsel flies. We even heard our first bittern of the year. They boom over the Levels.
The only downside to going to Grey Lake is that we can’t take the dogs. Maybe this weekend we can choose somewhere that dogs can go too.
What a fab place to explore as a family, it’s great to go back to the old favourites and spend some quality time together. It’s always bittersweet when through growing the kids can’t enjoy the things they used to take in their stride like running through the willow snake, at least they managed to squeeze one more year out of the fun there. It’s fab that there’s so many different plants and animals to see, although I can imagine you can’t wait to go exploring with the dogs soon! Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
You are right. It’s always nice to revisit. Each visit is different, from season to season, as well as each year. You can never guarantee what you will see.
I’ve never seen or heard a bittern so I’m rather envious! They are supposedly at the RSPB reserve near Oxford but I think that might be wishful thinking….
Somerset Levels is a great place to hear and see them. We quite often hear them at least, when we’re walking down there at one of the nature reserves. It is quite a sound. No mistaking it.
Playing with fabric and being surrounded by nature sounds like your living the dream life. #CountryKids.
Two of my favourite things!
Fuelled by sunshine. It tends to significantly increase my get up and go.
I should have “fuelled by sunshine” printed up as a bumper sticker! Perfect.