Along with lots of other RSPB sites (and people in their gardens), we took part in the Big Wild Sleepout this weekend. Luckily, Saturday evening was bright and dry and 12 intrepid people joined us for the walk out into the dunes. Amy and Laura, one of our volunteers, led the hike along the beach while I helped transport some of the bigger tents down to the site in the truck.
After setting up we had a long walk along the far loch shore to Starnakeppie, mostly lit by the Rattray lighthouse and the flares from St Fergus gas terminal. As well as a ridiculous number of rabbits, we saw Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, and several Roe Deer bounding about in the grass. Our plan to watch the meteor shower was unfortunately spolied by the cloud, so we all headed to bed, to fall asleep to the sound of the sea, the clamour of calling terns, and the distant strains of disco music from the Invercairn Gala just up the coast...
Despite a bit of overnight rain, it was dry when I left the tent the next morning. Some people took the chance for a lie-in, one family had bought pond-dipping nets and went hunting for fish in the stream, and others decided to have another short walk before packing up. I took the chance to head down to the beach to look at the roosting terns, and to look out to sea where a huge flock of Gannets were diving in the shallow water just off shore.
After a quick breakfast we broke camp and headed back, most of us ready for a shower and a hot cup of coffee. I'm not the most enthusiastic camper (this was my first non-music festival night camping since I was 11!) but it was lovely to wake up a few minutes stroll from the beach and great to see other people getting out to a very different part of the reserve and experiencing it late night when no one else is around.
If you are an enthusiastic camper, or want to start, remember we've got over £400 of camping equipment to give away as part of our Big Wild Sleepout raffle, tickets are £5 a book and you can buy them from the centre at Loch of Strathbeg when you next visit.