We are in the middle of Show the Love week, which kicked off on the 7 February, which is a campaign run by The Climate Coalition which the RSPB is a member of. The aim is to make everyone think about what we love about all the things that we could lose due to the impacts of climate change and let politicians know how we feel.
Here at Lake Vyrnwy we a running an event (details here) over the weekend to celebrate the Show the Love campaign, with the opportunity for children to create heart-shaped bird feeders to take home and a Valentine’s card for mum and/or dad, with a twist! At the same time we will be asking all visitors to sign some green hearts with what they love about Nature which will then be hung up on a homemade tree. So why not pop into the RSPB shop and let us know what you love about Nature or perhaps Lake Vyrnwy itself.
This has got me thinking about what I love about Lake Vyrnwy and some of the amazing natural spectacles/sightings that I have witnessed while working here.
Magical Moments
In March 2016 I was lucky enough to witness the amazing sight of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) glowing over the rolling hills of Lake Vyrnwy.
Skydancing Spectacle
Working at Lake Vyrnwy has given me privileged access to the breeding habits of the majestic Hen Harrier (female shown in picture below). The male’s acrobatic skydancing routine to ‘show-off’ to the female is a sight never to be forgot, as it tumbles and twists and cries in excitement over the heather clad valleys.
Collage of Colour
The colours of Lake Vyrnwy are always changing as the year progresses. Carpets of bluebells in Spring, lush green foliage and big blue skies in Summer, mosaic of lilac heather blankets of the moorlands and rich rustic colours of Autumn trees, all finished off with a blank canvas of white snow covering the hill tops ready for the colours to re-emerge.
Otterly Fantastic
Seeing just a glimpse of an otter is a memorable experience but getting to watch one from a bird’s eye view from the top of the dam was a fantastic sight. Given the shallow pool, lack of wind, perfect light conditions I was able to watch it hunting underwater through the vegetation occasionally surfacing.
These are just a few of the sights at Lake Vyrnwy that make you think how privileged we are to have these to savour and enjoy. But if we are to keep these, and much more, we need to act now to save them for generations to come. Please share your Love for Nature!