Another week has passed here on Exminster Marshes and for the first time since the new year, the weather overall has been very pleasant indeed. Having read Peter’s excellent blog last week, it does seem like spring is well and truly on its way, with one day this week being warm enough to wear just a t shirt!
There are many perks to being a residential volunteer for RSPB. For me the attraction was the chance to live and work on a nature reserve for an extended period of time, not only learning in depth about the birds and wildlife in a certain area, but also getting to know a site in detail. On top of that, being put through training programmes and having the opportunity to live very close to such a wonderful nature reserve that I feel part of is a definite bonus.
There are also interesting day to day opportunities that arise and I have had the chance to try many new and varied things. One day we will be quickly herding cows across large fields, the next day leading a small group of volunteers hedge laying and when we do spend a few hours in the office, it’s writing articles for local publications and blog entries like this one.
Volunteers really do get to be a big part of the reserve team and it’s very rewarding to see our hard work paying off when visitors and families enjoy their time here, the birders are out in full force and the fields are full of the classic wildfowl and wader species we have here over the winter.
This week confirmed what a good experience volunteering has been, with the residential volunteers being given the opportunity to go out on the wonderful Avocet cruises this Friday lunchtime. Me and Paul from Exminster Marshes were joined by Liz and Adam, the residential volunteers at RSPB Aylesbeare Common, as the boat set sail from Topsham, down the Exe and back.
It was a good opportunity to see many of the species we have at the marshes a bit closer up and in a different context. The commentary was very good and the birds certainly performed. We saw the majestic avocet feeding out on the mud, large flocks of dunlin, black tailed and bar tailed godwit, smaller numbers of redshank, curlew, oystercatchers, turnstone, mergansers and shelduck. It was like the Exe Estuary ‘Greatest Hits’ bird wise. We unfortunately didn’t get to see the little gull that has been sighted down here this week, though. On the way back up the estuary we were treated to about three hundred brent geese passing over the front of the boat. A fitting end to a very worthwhile trip.
Once again, it’s been a fulfilling and varied week as a residential volunteer at Exminster Marshes. Until next time, goodbye.
Daniel Mason.