Our celebrity trans-Atlantic wader made another of its infrequent visits to Radipole yesterday having been flushed from Lodmoor by three nameless RSPB workers. We were out on the saltmarsh to pick litter, check the cattle fence and weed the tern islands - to deter Canada geese from nesting – three essential jobs for the price of one, to minimise disturbance.
Amazingly, of all the vast acreage the sole dowitcher in the UK may have chosen to put down in, it opted for a tablecloth sized rectangle of cleared reedbed beside the Visitor Centre – and so was viewable from the VC windows and over the patio wall, at a distance of a few feet.
Naturally this promoted quite a bit of interest from local birdwatchers, photographers and at least one ‘bird finder’. Second from the right is a young Weymouthsider named Lauren Willis (alogside her friend Isabel Wilson) who administrates her own website. In this hyperactive world of fashion, iphones and Glee, (whatever that is, I truly haven’t got a clue!) it is heartening that young people are still drawn to natural history and wildlife. Check out Lauren's website , it is - I can say without fear of contradiction - miles better than Glee!
http://www.laurenthebirdfinder.co.uk/
And below is the other celebrated youngster the LBD. Thanks to Sean Tanner for permission to use his image. It is still there now but safer to check with the centre on 01305 778313 before setting off.
A fab sighting for the visitor centre I bet. :)
Well done to Lauren. Thats great to hear. Will go and have a look at her website now.
Regards
Justin Heath