Well every so often we like to get away from the bog. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing we like more than peaty pools and mile after mile of heather, sphagnum and open hill! However from time to time we do like to broaden our horizons...with this in mind Paul Stagg (our peatland apprentice), Ewan Munro (residential volunteer) and myself headed off on Saturday to help with the annual "Beach Bird Survey". Now this survey is dead easy...literally! - We went out to two beaches we had been assigned on the north coast to check for dead birds that had been washed ashore. The species is then recorded (if possible) along with cause of death; such as oiling, plastics, fishing net etc.
I'm pleased to say that neither of our beaches had any dead birds washed up and that there were also no signs of any oil slick incidents. We were also lucky enough to see a range of LIVE birds including: great northern diver, red-throated diver and Slavonian grebe. - What a great day at the beach!