The end of the
South Gare is for the most part a very open area. There is limited
cover for any migrant which might make a landfall here. As the
vegetation is sparce the migrant birds often find shelter in
either the "Tea bushes" (The Duke of Argyll's Teaplant Lycium
barbarum ) or in the gully.
| Sandwich
terns are seen around the end of the South Gare during
the summer months and well into the early autumn |
|
The
picture below shows the area usually referred to as the "Gully".
This depression in the ground does have some small willow bushes
and lots of Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum). These give good
cover and provide a food source for migrants such as warblers.
In the autumn it is worth looking at the willow bushes as I
have found the extraordinary caterpillars of the Puss Moth.
They rear their heads up if disturbed and wave highly modified,
whip like hind legs.
|
South
Gare Lighthouse
(the only lighthouse in Britain
which is privately owned) |
|
Not
all migrants that reach the South Gare are birds, occasionally
insects reach "fall" preportions. During the autumn it is
worth bearing in mind that some of the butterflies and moths
at the Gare could be migrants.
You may also
be interested in the flowers
of the South Gare |
The "Gully" South
Gare |
|
|
Scurvy
grass
(Cochlearia anglica) |
|
|
Dunlin
Dunlin were a very common wader to be seen at the Gare but in recent years the
numbers have declined. |
|
Turnstone
These birds are often seen along the shoreline at the Gare. They can also be
seen actually on the Gare at high tide waiting for the feeding areas to become
uncovered. |
|
|
