My RSPB Experience

Hello there! My name is Tamsin and this is to be my one and only blog post as I am soon to be completing a 6-month stint as a volunteer at RSPB Weymouth Wetlands.  “I'm the intern here” is a phrase that I have so often used to introduce myself lately, having filled a permanent role with a short-term agreement which has seen many mostly young people pass through it.  I have so much enjoyed my time here.  Not only was I new to the RSPB and birding when I started but I was also new to the area, having come from the Norfolk coast.  I was welcomed en masse, even by an otter on my first day!  I reckon it took me nearly the whole placement just to memorise every volunteer’s name (don’t ask me for last names)!  There are people who make up the work party team, the centre volunteers and the survey team, people often popping over from  Arne and oh so many Daves and Julies!  Every one of them is absolutely lovely and the RSPB is so lucky to have their dedication and support.

One thing that has struck me from doing this placement is how flexible it was from the very beginning.  When would you like to start? How long would you like to stay?  What do you want to do?  Naturally I wanted to do a bit of everything and I have had so much fun along the way.  I was, perhaps unwisely, very quickly trusted by Dan and Lindsey to occasionally be in charge of the Discovery Centre and all the responsibilities that go with that.   I also spent hours designing kids craft activites and games; I designed interpretation signs to go around the reserve;  I took part in the practical side of things by joining the Monday and Thursday teams to make the place look as it should by picking up litter, cutting back scrub and building new fences;  I joined bird surveys and, alongside another volunteer Will Putt, we did our own preliminary survey work so that hopefully in the future water vole surveys will be set up at local reserves such as Radipole Lake and Lodmoor, Lychett Fields and Arne Moors; I progressed to eventually lead walks, including the Discover Radipole walk at the beginning of this month; I was sent off to complete my first aid training and also the ‘RSPB Experience’ course at RSPB Headquarters The Lodge in Bedfordshire, a course usually only for newly employed staff (photo of us all below); finally I will assist Lynne Burningham by manning the RSPB table at the Lyme Regis Fossil festival this weekend.  

Time has just flown by!  I would love to be able to stay on and enjoy beautiful Weymouth in the summer but I feel it’s time for me to move on.  I have learnt so much whilst I have been here that I will be able to use when applying and in future jobs, most probably leading me on to a career in wildlife conservation.  And as for my bird knowledge, I’m nowhere near an expert but I can name quite a lot at first sight, even if it is just intuition.  Radipole Lake is made so special by being right in the middle of town.  On a good day with the cettis' warbling it is simply beautiful and not a day goes by when our marsh harriers are not seen.  I urge anyone to visit the reserve, and if you or anyone you know would like to replace me as intern, well even better! 

I want to end with a little para about recent sightings.  Surely there has never been a blog without some species mentions.  A wryneck was seen on Sunday morning and 4 whimbrels flew over Radipole yesterday.  One or two swifts have been spotted already and more waders than usual are on the reserve – greenshank, common sandpiper, oystercatchers and black tailed godwits! Exciting stuff!

Over and out.