WFV, Sunderland Point, 15th August 2017

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Tue, 15th Aug 2017, 4:06pm

BorageBorageThis was BEES first visit to Sunderland Point, an isolated hamlet between the estuary of the river Lune and Morecambe Bay and 14 people were sufficiently attracted to undertake the long journey there. We were blessed with good weather and thankfully Joan had read her tide tables correctly as the hamlet is cut off from the mainland at high tide - the only mainland village in the UK to suffer that fate.

We made our way through the village and along the banks of the estuary round the headland to the salt marsh area overlooking Morecambe Bay where there were vast areas of glasswort and cord grass and a wide diversity of other plant life - the botanists recorded 140 plants in flower or fruit and 3 ferns whilst Alice identified 5 different species of seaweed. The special plants of the day were two sea-lavenders, sea holly, soapwort and sea spurreys with the highlight being white ramping fumitory.

Bird life was plentiful but not very varied with lots of redshank and lapwing, a few curlew, a black-tailed godwit and four little egrets in a total of 22 species. The butterfly count was also not great, with 6 species being recorded.

On our way back to the minibus we visited the local attraction of Sambo's grave, the resting place of a young slave who died in the early 18th century.

Aware that the tide was coming in we travelled a few miles further up the Lune to the quaintly named hamlet of Snatchems where the Golden Ball pub provided an opportunity for refreshment and more bird spotting. It had been an good day in a different environment which everyone seemed to enjoy.

Thanks to the drivers and leaders of the day.

See the photos here.

Stuart

Add new comment