About Graham Clarkson

Born & brought up in Marshside, I started birding there in the mid 1970s & made my first birding trip to Martin Mere in 1977. I've lived, worked & birdied in Abu Dhabi, Northern Ireland & Gloucestershire & I've spent time working in Kazakhstan & Madagascar. I enjoy birding my various West Lancashire patches, making frequent birding visits throughout the north-west of England and North Wales. I stray elsewhere in the UK & enjoy birding abroad from time to time. I'm particularly interested in wildfowl (especially pink-footed geese) with an interest in waders & raptors, bird counts & surveys & conservation. I'm trying to get the hang of photography & digiscoping - I'll get there eventually.

My degree from Edge Hill University is in conservation biology. I've guided on numerous birding days out & trips & guided birding holidays to Lesvos, Andalucia, Extremedura, Majorca, Camargue, Hungary, Finland & Florida. I enjoy showing people birds & habitats & helping them learn more about birds & enjoy birding. I'm currently involved with the Birdwatching and Beyond course at Edge Hill and a brand new venture; Skein Birding.

As well as birding I'm interested in captive breeding & reintroduction projects & zoos, how they're managed & how they contribute to conservation. I'm a proud Lancastrian & love the Lancashire countryside & landscapes. I'm an Evertonian & also keep up with what's happening at Southport, PNE & Bristol Rovers. Gardening, dogs (I have a Labrador & a Tibetan Terrier) and keeping chickens (especially Marsh Daisys & Scots Dumpy Bantams). Ruth & I have two marvellous boys who both love nature too. I hope you find the blog and subjects covered interesting; please feel free to leave a comment.

Thursday 9 January 2014

Arundel flood

I suppose that, if for good reason, you build a wetland centre on a flood plain, it shouldn't be a surprise that it occasionally floods! That's certainly the case at the moment. The site has been closed for a few days recently, for visitor safety reasons, and while I was working there today I inspected the site and have to say that closing was a good call. The staff and volunteers are working hard to keep the site running and it looks like the forecast is going to be favourable and this should mean the water level will drop. Fingers crossed! 

The visitor centre came perilously close to flooding. 

The discovery hide has transformed into a wetland. 

Another of the discovery hide. 

A fat bloke in chest waders. 

Mute Swans don't mind a bit of flooding. 

An unusual shot of the Arundel Blue Duck (the only one outside of New Zealand).

Stunning drake Harlequin Duck at Arundel. 

I saw plenty of Water Voles around the site today and it was nice to hear several Cetti's Warblers singing. I'll post some more photos of recent work trips to Arundel when I get a moment...in the meantime back to this pint of Seafarers.

Cheers! 

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