Yesterday saw Fairburn Ings host our Christmas Family Fun Day, on possibly the last cold and frosty day for a short while.   The white ground certainly helped to make the place feel suitably Christmas-ey in preparation for a day of bauble decorating, visiting Santa in his grotto, and a whole load of other activities for the kids.  I hope everyone who came along had a great time.  As I was helping Santa to see so many children, I was able to watch a Kestrel just across the road for around twenty minutes (off and on!) as it hovered and flew looking for prey, before a herd of excited children were spotted swooping just yards away towards...me(!), calling for Santa. 

Moving on from Christmas and into the New Year, on Sunday 1st January we’ll be hosting an Optics Day complete with the much talked-about RSPB 82 HD telescope. I am having to restrict myself to when there is no one about, as I’m quite prone to making rather silly noises when looking at it!  We will be displaying all of our binoculars and telescopes out on the visitor centre balcony, where we’ll station a friendly and helpful member of staff to talk you through anything you’d like to know.  

With just six days to go until the manic shovelling of roast spuds and mince pies (or is that just me?), if I don’t see you before the Big Day then have a fabulous time and a wonderful New Year!  Off to the Christmas pudd – ahem! I mean, to work.