What a fantastic scoop!
With a wider readership than the Daily Telegraph, and a regular establishment in dentist and doctors waiting rooms, it has always been a dreamy aspiration of mine to feature a reserve in the RSPB's membership magazine Birds.
That day has come, and Langford Lowfields looks fantastic, with a wonderful array of panoramic pictures and a well crafted story from Paul French in the editorial spread. Hopefully you'll get a chance to pick up a copy of this edition, it's the Autumn 2011 volume with a sunset landscape and bar tailed godwits on the front page (from page 56 onwards for those of you in hurried excitement!).
The story highlights the growing relationship and opportunities to create phenomenal sites for wildlife working alongside the Minerals Industry, and in Langford's case the success of bringing back priority reedbed species such as bearded tits and marsh harriers in partnership with Tarmac.
Now, the real gem of this exclusive is the news on our secretive friend, the bog bluttering bitter bum, more commonly know as, the bittern.
The very first booming bittern for RSPB Midlands arrived in 2011, with the earliest grunts and grumbles starting in March as the winter retreated, building to a low frequency boom heard from a few hundred yards away into May and June. The bittern is one of the UK's rarest breeding birds, present at only 30 to 40 sites across the country, so to witness the success of building reedbed wetlands of great scale and quality for the benefit of these birds come to fruition has been truly spectacular.
Soon to be published, the latest Langford Lowdown newsletter reveals an in-depth look at the story with contributions from Jenny and Paul, so get in touch with the office on 01636 893 611 to get a copy, or indeed if you would like a copy of the Birds magazine we have a stock for those interested.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, and can send out copies to those who respond to this blog post below if you leave a comment.
The most important conservation message that Langford Lowfields is supporting is the 'build it and they will come' principle. The recent records of booming bittern, breeding marsh harrier, and wintering bearded tits certainly underlines that fact, and with so much habitat and work to be done, the future is encouraging for this special Nottinghamshire wetland site in the heart of the Country.
float like a butterfly