Volunteer Sunday was upon us once again this weekend and May is always a lovely time of year to get out and enjoy the site. This month we usually do a bit of work in the morning and then take the afternoon to have a walk around, see what's about and enjoy the fruits of the past year's labours!
Despite the terrible weather forecast and torrential downpour, 9 people arrived bright and early for a morning of site maintenance. We like to keep our visitor trails looking good, so a spot of weeding and tidying up the gravel path to the new viewing screen was definitely in order. Similarly, the gravel path at the western end of the boardwalk was also given a thorough tidy up and the bench overlooking the floating bridge is now clear of excess vegetation too. Thanks all for a great effort (in the rain!), the place looks so much better for this work.
So, to our afternoon walk, well fortunately the sun just happened to come out as we finished lunch and set off around the Phase 1 trails and onto Phase 2. Hobby was the definite highlight of the afternoon, giving us a spectacular display a close range in front of the new viewing screen. Such smashing birds - this bird was close enough to see the red 'trousers', it's great to see them catch and eat insects in mid air. Also recorded throughout the afternoon were avocet, common tern, snipe, buzzard and a lovely whimbrel showing well on Phase 2, giving it's distinctive call as it flew in front of us and down onto the shoreline.
And the thunderstorm even waited until we got back to the office for a cuppa!
Thanks all for another very productive and enjoyable day.
Atmospheric reeds by Barrington Randle.