During the past couple of weeks I've noticed a real change in our two reserves, especially since I started volunteering in June. Gone are the thousands of black-tailed godwits, only to be replaced by skeins of beautiful little brent geese and flocks of golden plover. I'm sure they'll soon be joined by redwings, fieldfares and waxwings too (hopefully - I've never seen one!)
Waxwing (Lowres) - what a beautiful bird.As winter's rapidly descending on us from the North, it seems that life just gets busier for the volunteers and staff here at Frampton and Freiston. Recently, I've fixed barbed-wire fences, hand-pulled weeds from the islands (along with another trusty work party of volunteers), 'autumn' cleaned the visitor centre, fixed a drinking trough for sheep and (best of all) carried out my first wildlife survey. Last week I borrowed a pair of waders and joined warden Graham on a survey of Freiston's salt marsh. The only way to accurately find out what birds are living on the salt marsh is to get out into it, and that involves lots and lots of mud! I must admit I was a wee bit apprehensive following Graham out into the great muddy unknown, and had visions of being trapped in quicksand up to my neck, but I needn't have worried.
Saltmarsh at Freiston Shore (Andy Hay@rspb-images.com)Instead I was treated to a wonderful close-up view of marsh plants samphire and sea-purslane and my first-ever Rock Pipit(s). Whilst traversing the salt marsh we also recorded large numbers of noisy redshanks, delicate little egrets, and bouncing flocks of goldfinch. I'm enjoying RSPB volunteering that much, that I'm now bringing along my friends and family members to try it out too - I brought my partner's 21 year old son Glen along on a weed-pulling work party, he had a great time and says he'll definitely be back. I also brought my best friend (and RAF colleague) Steve along, who had such a good time he joined the RSPB on the spot and is now looking to volunteer at his local reserve in the South of England!
When you're volunteering regularly at a reserve you really get to see the big picture - or (to quote my favourite Disney film) 'The Great Circle of Life'! Previously, when I would visit as a birder, maybe every couple of months, I now realise that I would take the reserve completely at face value, without realising how much things change from season to season. Being able to visit and work at Frampton and Freiston once a week is a tremendous privilege that I am very grateful for. I love the opportunities to go 'behind the wire' and visit parts of the reserves that the general public don't usually get to see. If you haven't tried volunteering yet, why not give it a go?