04 July 2010
Walk Around Nosterfield Nature Reserve In Yorkshire
When I went to track down the Thornborough Henges, I parked initially at the Nosterfield Nature Reserve. Nosterfield was formerly a sand and gravel quarry for Tarmac that has been restored to open water and shallow pits. It has become one of the best places in North Yorkshire for passage and wintering waders and the birds were making a jolly, happy racket while swimming around on the waters. It is claimed that there are 150 species of birds, 25 butterflies and 297 plants that are to be found on the site. Perhaps even more lovely is that fact that when I visited the other day it was basically empty of visitors - there were 3 others tootling about. They were all garbed out in proper twitching clothing with huge, showy cameras and binoculars and (as always) proper sturdy walking boots, while I had my camera, a notebook and a cheap pair of trainers on from Sports Direct.
There are black-tailed godwits, avocets, moorhens and ruffs (note to self: get bigger zoom lens). I was particularly taken by the butterflies and some awesome small bee orchids that I came across. The photos I managed to get of the butterflies included mainly common species but they are still beautiful as there is still beauty in the commonplace, which is one of my main campaigns in life, i.e. for people to realise that life is good and to see the beauty on your doorstep in the seemingly and supposedly mundane. I saw cuckoo spit, ringlets (with very feint ringlets), speckled wood butterflies, burnet moths (really gorgeous), green-veined whites and small skippers and many more that just would not stay still!
I shall be back to look more closely as it is just on my doorstep by West Tanfield.
