I'm always told how marvellous it is to work on a nature reserve. Out in the fresh air, lots of wildlife to spot. Alas, the reality often is being in the office doing the 'behind the scenes' work. But sometimes I do get outside. and this week there is a perfect opportunity to do so.
Bird Watching magazine (other, similar, publications are available...) is running what they call the 'Birding Lunch' this week. Encouraging everyone to get outside for at least one lunchtime between 1 and 7 July, to see what birds they can spot. Even office workers in city centres can join in, our urban parks are a brilliant place to see birds of all kinds. let alone the wonderful variety we get on RSPB nature reserves. So, for the duration of the week hopefully either myself or another RSPB staff member will be having a nice lunch out on the reserve.
(brief interlude)
And I'm back in the office again, after a very pleasant lunch out in the 360 hide (so called because of its all-round views). Highlight of the lunch was either the spotted redshank or else the sheer numbers of black tailed godwit. Well over 200 gracing the reserve, most in breeding colours. Other birds out there were a couple of greenshank, a few common terns loitering around, lapwings with chicks and, on the way back to the office, a pheasant with some really cute fluffy chicks by the side of the road.
Reedbed, freshwater scrapes, saltmarsh and wet meadow. Frampton Marsh has it all! Come and pay us a visit soon.