After last week’s fantastic introduction from Jenni, I’d like to introduce myself as Fairburn’s new Trainee Visitor Officer. I’ll be working with Jenni to make your visit to RSPB Fairburn Ings so enjoyable that you’ll want to come and see us as often as possible, by delivering an exciting programme of events and activities for everyone.
My love of nature comes from my love of walking. I grew up tramping the Pennine moors, and the Curlews, Meadow Pipits and Red Grouse I see in the hills really do feel like old friends (although I don’t talk to them - much). In my opinion, Meadow Pipits are one of the most beautiful birds to watch, however much of a Little Brown Bird they may be!
The moors can seem pretty quiet in the winter, apart from the grouse telling me to ‘go back’ when I accidentally disturb them; and being here at Fairburn Ings I’m getting excited about winter for the first time in my life. I do love the moors in the winter, but the sightings of migrants here over the past month has really got me looking forward to seeing some of the birds which visit us for a while over the cold months. I’ve managed to catch a glimpse of a Redwing, lots of Long-Tailed Tits – which I can’t get enough of; some Wigeon, and also a few Whooper Swans. At the moment I can’t wait to see some Waxwings – being new to birdwatching, I’ve got a lot of birds to meet. I'm hearing about all sorts of birds I've only ever seen in books - Pink Footed Geese, Bramblings, Mistle Thrushes, for example - and I am absolutely loving reading up about them, just in case.
Two Long-eared Owls were seen yesterday, between Lin Dyke and Hickson’s Flash, which I personally am incredibly excited about. I’d love to see a pair of dark orange eyes signalling one's prescence, and I intend to get down there as soon as I can. Seen from the Lin Dyke hide were some Shovelers, Pochards, Wigeon, Tufted Ducks, and Teals. Wigeon are one of my favourite ducks, partly due to their wonderful colouring of chestnut, yellow, pink, white and grey; and also because they were one of the first ducks (after Mallards) that I identified correctly!
Over the weekend, a Sparrowhawk was seen from Pickup (Saturday), as well as a Marsh Harrier (Sunday); and, from the Kingfisher Screen, we’ve had groups of Fieldfares and Redwings (Sunday), as well as our fantastic Kingfisher.
All these sightings are really cheering me up about the prospect of winter – and there are so many more things I’m looking forward to seeing. From the Visitor Centre, I can watch the cutest weasel scurrying about below (thankfully weasels do not hibernate); I can go to Lin Dyke to see all the wildfowl noted on Monday; and there are plenty of things to see going all the way along the Riverbank Trail, from the tiny Kingfisher to the not-so-tiny Whooper Swans. Winter does not seem so quiet, anymore.
Georgina Collins