My Leverton

                                       Leverton Nature Watch with Maureen Humberstone

The early frosty mornings of January made for some beautiful sunrises across The Wash, shimmering on the sea and wet sands with the dark Brent Geese making a spectacular back drop.  Another beautiful sight on these cold frosty mornings was that of the majestic Barn Owl hunting silently down the drain and dyke sides.  The gaggle of Pink Footed Geese filled the early morning air as more of them headed from the Wash northwards to the Solway and Scotland in readiness to migrate back to Russia, Iceland and the Arctic regions.  Flocks of Redwing could be seen homing in on the hedgerows in search of the various berries.

January saw the black ivy berries begin to ripen along the hedgerows along the roman bank.  The Buzzard was still around, mainly hunting the hedgerows and tree tops.  As I walked down the Dovecote Road one early frosty morning a Weasel ran, or should I say skated, across the road in front of me, a very amusing sight.  The heather in my garden began to bloom brightening up the cold winter days and by the end of January the delicate snowdrops began to bloom, a really welcome winter sight. 

Despite the early morning fog and frost on the 6th February, a beautiful Song Thrush along with a Blackbird, Dunnock and Robin were all singing, a truly magical sound on a cold, dull, winters day.  By the 8th of the month winter took its grip with more snow and sleet, but on a bright morning it was wonderful to see the various Seagulls, one minute shining brilliant white in the sunshine against a black winter sky and then turning and fading with their grey colours into the cloud, so humble but so spectacular.  A bird that filled the sky black at times was that of the Wood Pigeon as they rose in big flocks from fields of cabbage and cauliflower and at times a Peregrine would appear and chase after them in its fast, powerful flight.

A country walk along the 12th/13th century sea bank in Leverton, just one of Maureen's many routes.


Mid February saw Elder just starting to come into leaf and the Pussy Willows in my garden began to show the first of their fluffy catkins, whilst the Hazel lambs tails hung in readiness to burst open when the weather gets a little warmer.  Mallard began to pair up in the dykes and drains, Owls also began to pair up and in the garden Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Robins and Great Tits began to be seen in pairs.  The pair of Moorhens that I have had since last winter still come to feed from and around my bird table, sending off a cock Pheasant that also comes to feed but gladly they leave the small birds alone.  The things I do like to see them chase are the two rats that have found refuge in my garden shed.  Who needs a cat when you have a couple of Moorhens!

Thank you Maureen; and I really must make the effort to accompany you for a walk around the marsh areas I remember so well.   Alan.