This walk is a follow up to our March talk when Philip Parker explained the formation of the claypits and how the area has changed over millions of years.
A small party of RNHS members met in the car park and made their way down the slope to the reserve proper stopping at the view point to look over the working part of the brick works. From this vantage point Sand Martins could be seen using the stacked bricks as nest sites.
The walk down to the bird hide was at a leisurely pace to allow the various plants to be identified see below for list.
Numerous butterflies, mainly Ringlets, Meadow Brown and Green-veined Whites were on the wing.
Green Woodpeckers could be heard calling around the reserve.
From the hide we had the chance to watch Common Terns and chicks, Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeder to mention a couple of species.
A walk up the nature trail brought us into contact with more Green Woodpeckers, Common Darter, Brown Argus and many more plant species.
Taking a stroll to the dipping platform we were enchanted to watch a family of Reed Warblers demanding to be fed.
A lovely morning out at a very varied reserve.
Birds seen Woodpigeon, Red Kite, Common Tern, Pochard, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Wren
Kings Dyke Nature Reserve 13th July 2019 list of plants identified, thanks to John and Jane for compiling this
Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria
Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre
Black Medick Medicago lupulina
Bladder Campion Silene vulgaris
Bramble Rubus fructicosus agg
Broad-leaved Willowherb Epilobium montanum
Common Centuary Centaurium erythraea
Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas
Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea
Common Storksbill Erodium cicutarium
Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense
Cut-leaved Cranesbill Geranium dissectum
Dove’s-foot Cranesbill Geranium molle
Eyebright Euphrasia sp
Field Forget-me-not Myosotis arvensis
Field Madder Sheradia arvensis
Field Pansy Viola arvensis
Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys
Greater Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella major
Hemp Agrimony Eupatorium cannabium
Hoary Cress Lepidium draba
Horseradish Armoracia rusticana
Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria
Musk Mallow Malva moschata
Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
Perforate St John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum
Red Bartsia Odontites verna
Ribbed Melilot Melilotus officinalis
Rosebay Willowherb Chamerion angustifolium
Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis
Self-heal Prunella vulgaris
Smooth Tare Vicia tetrasperma
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Thhyme-leaved Sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia
Weld Reseda luteola
Wild Basil Clinopodium vulgare
Wild Mignonette Reseda lutea
Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca
Wild Teasel Dipsacus fullonum
Yellowwort Blackstonia perfoliata