Inner Marsh Farm: Reserve 51

I received the latest letter from the RPSB this morning and reading through one of the leaflets I noticed an interesting omission in the list of northern reserves: Inner Marsh Farm.

Inner Marsh farm used to be absent from all RSPB literature as when the reserve was originally granted planning permission, the nimbys added the proviso that it essentially remained secret in order to prevent too many visitors - and therefore traffic – from ruining their Daily Mailesque rural idyll.

It therefore had a similar status to the US Government’s infamous secret military airbase – the so-called ‘Area 51’- in the Nevada desert. I even remember my first ever visit before the recent period of glasnost: after receiving instruction from Richard Smith, I was blindfolded and then bundled in a windowless van before being driven to the location by some blokes in black suits.

Thankfully times have now changed and despite the runways on the above map of Area 51 looking worryingly similar to the plans for the expanded reserve, I fully expected to be granted access this afternoon.

In the period before evening, on a clear and still day, when the sun sits just above the Clwydian Range escarpment the light at IMF can be perfect giving you wonderful views of the assorted wetland birds.

Tonight was one such night, and one that was very much welcome after the recent spate of rain and gales. After two weeks of shivering behind the causeway, the wildfowl and waders were back on number two pool.

The highlight was cracking views of Spotted Redshank feeding slap bang in front of the hide with a Reeve and a Ruff for company and also, momentarily, a Water Rail.

Sadly the light soon faded, but not before I watched a couple of Kestrels having a minor territorial dispute and a Buzzard lumbering into its roost at the top of a tree.

Until later.