Wader Watching
at the Main Hide

Two weeks in December 1995 were set aside for wader watching at the Main Hide. With the help of volunteer guides, telescopes were set up to allow visitors to take a closer look at the birds. Most were fascinated by these tiny birds who had made a journey of about 30,000 km to escape the cold harsh northern winter. The younger visitors were the most enthusiastic about spotting the feathered visitors ("I can see! Ican see!" became the catch phrase for those 2 weeks).

In addition to watching the migrants in action on the mudflats, visitors also managed to observe Kingfishers, White-breasted Waterhen, larger birds like egrets, herons, bitterns and the majestic White-bellied Sea Eagle.

The restlessness of shorebirds,
their kinship with the distance and swift seasons,
the wistful signal of their voices
down the long coastlines of the world
make them, for me,
the most affecting of wild creatures.

Peter Matthiessen