My Time with Wildlife Explorers.

By Floriana Finn-Kelcey

I have loved all of the walks I have been on with the Wildlife Explorers. One of my favourite walks would have to be around Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve. We were greeted with a flyby from a peregrine when we were only just out of the car park. I enjoyed seeing all the different species of birds along the coastline and marshes. From the snipe and spoonbill passing overhead to the avocets and spotted redshank wading through the water, the marshes were full of life, with bird song and calls filling the air.

I particularly loved watching a red-necked grebe and a Slavonian grebe bobbing and diving along the coast. These were both new species for me, so I was especially excited! They were next to great crested grebes, and with sightings of little grebes earlier on, we managed to see 4 out of the 5 species of grebe found in the UK! We were also treated to views of thousands of waders taking flight together over the water, flying small circuits around the marsh and landing as one on the mudbanks amongst dunlin, wigeon, and plovers.

I also enjoyed watching the starlings chattering on the tops of boat masts and the lapwings with their distinctive, floppy flapping flight.

All of the walks I have been on with the Wildlife Explorers have been amazing, with such a great variety of species—from fungi and flowers to birds and insects. Everyone there is so kind and welcoming, eager to answer any questions you have and teach you about the spectacular wildlife within the New Forest.

I’ve learnt so much on each one—this time, learning the differences between red-necked and Slavonian grebes. The main distinction in winter is that the red-necked grebe has a longer, mostly yellow bill, whereas the Slavonian grebe has a shorter, greyish-black one. I have also been improving my recognition of bird calls the more I’ve been out with the Wildlife Explorers.

I am very much looking forward to the next walk and seeing what other wonders the New Forest has to offer!