The Eiderling and Me Sailed O’Er O’Er Sailed Me and Eiderling the Very Best Shipmate
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Explore, Spot things & Search for clues on the way the on clues for Search & things Spot Explore, 1 Easy to follow Map & Story & Map follow to Easy 2 3 The Eiderling “Well, Darwin, we are very lucky here at He started to comb the beach with his As he sat watching and listening the seals, or sea pigs as Fuzz called South Walney as we don’t get disturbed long beak, finding little snacks in the carefully a little caterpillar crawled them, hauling themselves up onto the Under the light of a May Darwin’s mum looked a little shocked. by many folks, so it’s a great place for sand. Darwin watched and then had a onto his shoulder. “Ahoy there, matey,” beach and felt very tiny in comparison. moon four little eider chicks “Well, my darling, you might need to you to watch the other creatures and go himself. “Are we hunting for pirate said the little hairy creature. “Need a “They can hold their breath for 20 explore the seven lands of Walney first start to understand them a little. Watch treasure?” asked Darwin. “Peep peep,” shipmate?” Darwin stared at his new pal minutes, I’ve been told.” made their way down to … just before you set sail.” how they move and talk to each other … said the oystercatcher and flew off out and nodded with a big, beaky smile. “My the shingle beach of Walney it’s a bit like cracking a secret code! Why to sea. Darwin smiled to himself and name’s Master Fuzz and I be pleased Darwin watched in wonder as the seals Island … one little eiderling “I really want to, Mum, but I’m scared don’t you start with someone who lives carried on exploring Shingle Beach. He to be of service to you, sir. Those be barked at each other. “Every good pirate of the other animals, I don’t understand needs to know where to haul up to rest did not. nearby … the oystercatcher … found mermaid’s purses and beautiful redshanks you’re looking at and curlews what they are saying. They make shells, and began to feel just a little bit too. Can you hear them talking to each once in a while, so it’s worth watching strange noises and some of them look Darwin was snuggled up in his soft, “Peep peep,” said the oystercatcher, like a pirate. other?” “Oooo ee oooo ee,” said the those sea pigs for seafaring tips,” said frightening too, especially the black downy nest and was quite happy to who was walking around on Shingle birds with the long, curved beaks. “They Fuzz knowingly. dinosaur bird on The Great Ocean.” carry on snoozing. “Come on!” shouted Beach, next door to Eider Island. Now Darwin was feeling a little bit more be looking for delicious snacks in the He looked like he was searching for courageous, so he decided to venture Darwin wanted to see how the seals his brothers and sisters, “it’s a beautiful five-star mud restaurant out there, no swam so he bravely popped his evening,” but Darwin would not budge. At something special and didn’t seem scary further away from home. He walked doubt,” said Fuzz confidently. Darwin at all. “Maybe he’s looking for treasure,” past the finger pools and waved to the head under the water at high tide and 10 weeks old most of the chicks had left Male eiders throw their heads i watched as the wading birds snacked on thought Darwin. The oystercatcher otters and spotted some amazing yellow amazingly managed to hold his breath for the nest and begun exploring but Darwin back and say “coo oooo” when worms, shellfish and shrimps, sucking was black and white with a long, bright flowers by the path … this was getting two whole minutes! The seals seemed to stayed well and truly put … until summer! they see a female they like. It them up out of the mudflats. His tummy orange beak. “Peep peep,” he said exciting! He sat looking over Lighthouse use their whiskers to help them find food sounds like they are saying began to rumble a bit. “It’s time for you to leave the nest again as he turned to face Darwin, who Bay and noticed a beautiful tall bird and chatted to each other using all sorts “I love you”! now, Darwin,” said his mum. “Time for became a quivering ball of fluff. with bright red legs wading through the Fuzz passed Darwin a pair of tiny of different sounds like growls, hisses, you to spread your wings and go on mudflats. He saw that she often pushed binoculars and pointed out towards The grunts and clicks. Sometimes they would some adventures of your own.” Darwin “I’m g-g-g-going to be black and white her long beak into the muddy sand and Spit. “See those sea pigs over yonder, smack the water with their tails when snuggled into his mum’s downy feathers like you when I’m older but with a green wondered what she was doing. mighty gurt big creatures that they are? they were angry, which a little closer. “You are a mighty sea duck, n-n-n-neck,” stuttered Darwin. The Well, they eat the same food as you, looked a bit scary but By Anja Phoenix Anja By Darwin, the sprinter of the duck world … oystercatcher nodded and waded over. shellfish and the like.” Darwin watched really it was just a warning for folks to Nature Reserve Nature a great diver and great hunter too. Eider Island can’t be your home forever.” stay back. A family story trail around South Walney Walney South around trail story family A “I WANT TO BE A PIRATE!” said Darwin Seals eat mussels, clams, The Eiderling The ! sea urchins, starfish and determinedly. “I want to sail the seven Please don’t go onto seas and hunt for treasure!” the beaches – it is crabs just like eiders. really important that Eiders can eat a clam whole, the fragile animals crushing the shells with their Eider mums sit on the eggs and plants are not gizzard (the thick, muscular the young at heart at young the for four weeks and don’t eat disturbed. You can part of a bird’s stomach) – for children and and children for a thing! When the eggs hatch, see beach-finds like now who’s the scary one?! eider mums and aunties protect walks walks these in the Curiosity the delicate chicks by forming story Cabin and also on South Cumbria South a crèche around them for the other beaches around local first few weeks. Walney Island Don’t pick up or touch fuzzy fun fun Walks around Walks caterpillars as their spiny hairs are quite irritating. 4 5 6 The bit for grown ups.... “Why don’t you have a swim too?” asked The buccaneer pair ventured on through Darwin chuckled cheekily and Fuzz The pair walked cautiously towards encrusted eye patch and a pirate flag This interactive 5km Tale Trail explores Terrain: A mixture of tracks, grassy Fuzz. “Eiders are the best diving sea Have you ever had your the dunes and Marvellous Meadows, snuggled into his downy feathers a little the waves of The Great Ocean and which said ‘THE EIDERLING’ in big, ducks I know of. Go on, show them your and watched all sorts of amazing bit more. “There’s one more creature bold letters. the wonderful wilderness of South footpaths and boardwalk. chips mugged by a gull or the cormorant watched them from Walney Nature Reserve. Use the map strong tail rudder.” creatures … gatekeeper butterflies I’d like you to meet, Darwin,” said Fuzz, the ocean’s edge. He turned to face Directions: From Barrow-in-Furness “Now go and sail the seven seas, my and nature reserve leaflet to help you been pooped on from above? fluttered around like secret spies, pointing out towards The Great Ocean. them… follow signs for Walney Island, cross Darwin shook his head and folded his friend,” said the mighty cormorant before find your way and spot features from the skylarks filled the sky with the most The sun was beginning to set and on Jubilee Bridge onto the Island and arms defiantly. “Shiver me tail feather, Yes, they fight and squabble and diving under the crashing waves. Darwin story. The route mainly follows the red marvellous song, and sheep and cows the horizon stood a huge creature with “The gatekeeper butterfly tells me that follow brown signs left at traffic lights. Fuzz, I’m not going in there”. even eat each other’s eggs but and Fuzz smiled at each other and way markers in a clockwise direction munched happily in the summer sun. outstretched wings and magnificent a brave little eiderling called Darwin is Follow this road for about 1km/0.6 they are just trying to survive like stood just a little bit taller. from the car park. There is a shortcut The skylarks seemed to mimic the call black, shiny feathers. “Eeeeek … it’s training to be a pirate.” miles then turn left down Carr Lane, Darwin and Fuzz headed around the bay the rest of us. Gulls stamp their across the blue way-marked oyster farm sounds of different birds whilst flying the d-d-d dinosaur bird!” stuttered pass Biggar Village and follow the to Gull Meadow, passing amazing giant feet to mimic rain so that worms Darwin nodded whilst keeping his eyes “I think we need to go and find my track if little legs are getting tired.