Welcome to this weeks Ribble Roundup
Not only do we have our new Facebook page @RSPBRibbleEstuary, we also have our own Twitter page too @RSPB_Ribble. Please like and share our pages, we are really looking forward to engaging with as many of you as possible and providing lots of information about our work in conservation and education around the estuary. We look forward to welcoming many visitor contributions on both channels and welcome any photographs and snippets of information about our wonderful sites.
Ribble Discovery Centre
My daily stroll around the lake has yielded some great results this week, spending a good half an hour observing our female kingfisher's successful hunting missions on Wednesday. She was perched on the over hanging branches on a tree on the furthest island. Her missions were rewarding and she characteristically bashed the fish against the tree before consuming them.
Thursday, brought 3 pintail ducks basking in the spring-like sunshine. Two male and one female have been recorded on our sightings board, however, I observed one male and two females. Pintail ducks are treat to see any time with their regal sort of presence gliding serenely across the water, male plumage is also rather majestic.
The air was also alive with spring birdsong, the unusually milder weather seemingly having an overall uplifting effect on the lake and garden residents. Many blue and great tits have been using our feeders as well as house sparrows, starlings and the occasional cheeky jackdaw!
The oystercatchers and redshank have also been busy around the lake. The oystercatchers are feeding on the invertebrates in the grass on the far side of the lake and are also regularly seen on other nearby grasslands. There are still one or two perhaps slightly braver redshank on the edges of the lake....I do wonder if it's always the same one or two? We have been sent a couple of photos from one of our regular visitors. So many thanks to Stewart Kay for the redshank shots. The redshank are picking out the tiny molluscs and crustaceans from the lake edges.
Redshank on the edges of Fairhaven Lake
Education and Visitor Centre
Volunteer Visitor Experience Internship opportunity.
At the Ribble Discovery Centre we are offering a Volunteer Visitor Experience Internship opportunity.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, passionate volunteer intern to play a vital role within our team and help deliver a great experience for schools, families and general visitors for two to three days a week March - September.
This role has the potential to be extremely flexible, offering a chance to gain experience in a variety of areas. It will provide the opportunity to boost confidence, experience and skills required to make that first step into a career within the conservation sector. The role would suit a graduate, looking to fulfil work placement, anyone looking to gain teaching skills and visitor engagement experience. It would also be suitable for someone looking for a change in career. Volunteering with the RSPB is a sure fire way to gain relevant experience and I am a proven example of that, having volunteered on the learning team at Leighton Moss previously.
If you think this role would suit yourself or even someone you know please have a look at the role profile on our website here and get in touch. The closing date is Thursday 20 February.
Shop
Our shop continues to do well, with 90% of money going directly back into conservation, education and advocacy. Some of this will be the wonderful work that goes into the land management at Marshside and Hesketh out Marsh.
Our Christmas sale will remain on till 11 February, with some really amazing bargains to currently be had.
There is still half price off 3kg bags of buggy nibbles, which are going down a treat in our feeders in the gardens here.
There is also a save £2 deal on two nestboxes. This is a great time of year to be getting those nestboxes up, so they can be checked out by any possible residents in time.
Jo
Nestbox display in the Ribble Discovery Centre, photo credit Jo Taylor